Ultra-endurance athlete Nick Pelletier knew the Hawaiian channel he planned to swim had plenty of sharks, but he should have been worried about the jellyfish.

Pelletier, who害羞草研究所檚 from Kelowna, flew to Hawaii last week for an attempt to swim across the Molokai Channel, a 41-kilometre stretch between the Hawaiian Islands of Molokai and Oahu.

The channel is known for treacherous currents and abundant marine life, including whales and more than 40 types of sharks.

He didn害羞草研究所檛 encounter any sharks.

Instead, jellyfish stings forced him to quit his challenge on Tuesday.

害羞草研究所淚t got me in the face here and then all over my arms, and my chest and everything,害羞草研究所� said Pelletier during a Zoom interview, who rolled up his T-shirt to show multiple red streaks along his torso and arms left by the jellyfish.

害羞草研究所淚 felt like I had a hot iron on me getting branded,害羞草研究所� Pelletier recalled of the stings, which also left him with swollen eyes.

Pelletier, 26, had been in the channel more than 13 hours, and was about half way through his swim when the jellyfish struck and his crew decided he needed to come out of the water.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very frustrating,害羞草研究所� he said.

He had also been fighting against rough currents, and his lungs were filling with saltwater, which made him feel sick.

The current switched at one point and he wasn害羞草研究所檛 moving, despite giving it the same effort as before.

害羞草研究所淎t that moment, you just kind of think about all the time you spent in training that people don害羞草研究所檛 see.

害羞草研究所淵ou get all the hours, and hours and hours in the pool alone and mentally preparing in the gym, strengthening your shoulders, doing your running, everything like that 害羞草研究所�. So, all this stuff kind of flashes before your eyes when you害羞草研究所檙e getting pulled.害羞草研究所�

Pelletier made the headlines last summer by completing a 106-kilometre, lengthwise swim of Okanagan Lake from Vernon, B.C. to Penticton within 71 hours.

He said he use to race in triathlons before doing nature challenges and enjoys the feeling of pushing against his own limits.

害羞草研究所淥n its best days, you can害羞草研究所檛 beat Mother Nature, but on certain days, it will lead to challenges,害羞草研究所� said Pelletier, adding that it害羞草研究所檚 a cool experience to go up against a powerful force.

害羞草研究所淎ll these things that I害羞草研究所檝e done in my past when I finished them, or put all the time and effort into visualizing a goal, putting in the preparation, the training, and then executing it and finally coming together, those rare moments in life that don害羞草研究所檛 come around very often, but they害羞草研究所檙e very much earned and not given.害羞草研究所�

Pelletier said he would like to attempt another swim of the channel, but didn害羞草研究所檛 say when. He plans to 害羞草研究所渓ay low害羞草研究所� in Hawaii for the rest of the week, he said.

These types of challenges make him feel thankful and proud of his crew who has been looking after him, Pelletier said, not to mention giving him a ton of respect for the ocean and marine life.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 always a learning experience,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 trade the things I害羞草研究所檝e learned for anything.害羞草研究所�

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