Possible Clues:

• Learned like Hero's lover in Greek legend
• Swimmer, svelte and sunburned, turned up
• Article about nation's foremost swimmer
• He drowned in the Hellespont
• Hero's beloved in Greek mythology
• Learned Greek lover who swam Hellespont to meet Hero
• Lover in dire straits?
• The swimmer was thin and got ruddy well up
• Greek hero who swam the Hellespont
• In Greek legend, lover of Hero who drowned in the Hellespont