Guwahati, Feb. 1: At 34, he is still as enthusiastic and determined like he was in his teens, when he created waves in the pool, quite literally.

Former international swimmer Elvis Ali Hazarika is looking to battle the odds to chase a childhood dream when he attempts to cross the English Channel in August this year. Should he manage to take the plunge, he will be the first from the Northeast to take a shot at the feat.

In 2001, 70-year-old Ram Chandra Bhagawati from Sivasagar was denied the attempt on medical grounds.

The English Channel is the water passage that separates southern England from northern France and joins the southern part of the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Elvis will attempt to start swimming from England to France through the Channel, approximately 68km.

"I know the odds are against me. But this has been my dream since childhood and throughout my career. I had always wished to cross the English Channel. Finally, I have accumulated the courage to do it," said a confident Elvis.

He started swimming at the age of two-and-a-half and had crossed the 800-metre Dighalipukhuri here when he was four years old. When he was five, he swam the length of Joysagar Lake in Sivasagar, considered to be the largest man-made lake in India.

He was the youngest to represent India in the Asia Pacific Swimming Championship at the age of nine in 1991. He also represented Assam in the All- India Police National Aquatic Games, Sub-Junior, Junior and Senior Aquatic National Championship and National Games and India in South Asian Federation Games in 1995 and 1999, and the World Police Games in 2009. He now has 68 national and six international gold medals in his kitty.

"However, crossing the Channel is a whole new challenge for me as throughout my life I have trained for short distance swimming. Now I am learning to train for long distance swimming. Moreover, the water in the Channel remains under five degrees Celsius throughout the year," he said.

The swimmer is going through a fitness regime under body-builder Mahadev Deka. "I have designed a fitness regime with sets of endurance training, cardio vascular and strength enhancing exercises. His diet is also full of carbohydrates and fat," said Deka. Elvis is also doing yoga and meditation.

Challenging as it is to the body and mind, crossing the Channel is taxing on the pocket as well. "I will be accompanied by my childhood friend Prasanta Das. The cost of a boat, pilot, coach, registration, visa, travel, lodging and training in the United Kingdom will come to around Rs 17 lakh. I am approaching sponsors," Elvis said.

In the UK, Julie Bradshaw, general secretary of Channel Swimmer's Association, who crossed the Channel at the age of 15, will train Elvis.