The man likes long-distance swimming because:
1. It provides him with challenges:
- Long-distance swimming is physically demanding and requires endurance and determination to overcome the distance, making it challenging and rewarding for those who enjoy pushing themselves to achieve their goals.
2. It contrasts with his normal lifestyle:
- Engaging in long-distance swimming may provide a break from the routine of everyday life, offering a different and refreshing experience that allows him to escape from the ordinary and experience something unique and invigorating.
Both of these reasons reflect different aspects of the appeal that long-distance swimming holds for the man.