Mumbai, 30th Jul 2024
Swimming against the odds, Ms. Jiya Rai, a 16-year-old girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder, has become the youngest and fastest para-swimmer in the world to successfully swim across the English Channel. The daughter of Madan Rai, MC-at-Arms II of the Indian Navy, Jiya accomplished this solo swim, covering a distance of 34 kilometers in 17 hours and 25 minutes. Remarkably, in the 150-year history of Channel swimming, Jiya is the first girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder to achieve this feat.
She started her heroic effort on 28th July 24 from Abbotts Cliff, England and finished at Pte De La Courte- Dune, France in the early hours of 29th Jul 24. Jiya has dedicated this swim for Autism awareness and in recognition of this endeavour, English Channel Sea Swimming 2024 from 21st to 28th Jul 24 and was dedicated for Autism Awareness.
In March 2022, she had created a new world record for the fastest swim across the Palk Strait, crossing the 29 km stretch in 13 hours and 10 min. She has also won wide acclaim for her swimming prowess, including the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.
Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of two, Jiya found her passion for swimming during daily park visits. Although non-verbal, her parents guided her through videos, leading to a thriving Para-swimming career adorned with numerous accolades.
Jiya’s Accolades
She was awarded the prestigious Shriver-Kennedy Student Achievement Award-2023 for her performance in Open Water Swimming. She also participated in the 77th edition of Open Water Long Distance Swimming Competition organised by Murshidabad Swimming Association in Bhagirathi River on 03rd Sep 23. Only 14 of the 24 participants in the 81 km event completed the swim in the stipulated 13 h 30 min. Miss Jiya completed the swim in 13 h 10 min and was the youngest and the only special child to have done so in the competition’s 77 years history.
About English Channel and the Swim
‘More people have scaled Mount Everest than swim across the English Channel. In the last 100 years, only about 1,700 people have swum across the English Channel.’
The Channel is known for its treacherous currents. Its water temperature in July is 18⁰ C and can cause hypothermia. Besides the hazards of jelly fish and debris, the Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world with over 600 tankers, ferries and other vessels crossing daily. Weather conditions change abruptly making it almost impossible to plan the swim in advance.
As per the Channel Swimming Association rules, the swimmer cannot leave the water or touch the pilot boat or anyone that accompanies the swimmer. Food and liquids are handed over by boat crew using a long stick.
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