In a remarkable display of determination and skill, Jiya Rai, a 16-year-old Indian para swimmer with Autism Spectrum Disorder, has become the world’s youngest and fastest female para swimmer to swim solo across the English Channel.
The daughter of Madan Rai, a senior sailor in the Indian Navy, Jiya completed the gruelling 34 km stretch from Abbots Cliff, England, to Pointe de la Courte-Dune, France, in an impressive 17 hours and 25 minutes on July 29, 2024.
Jiya’s extraordinary feat not only showcases her exceptional swimming abilities but also serves as a powerful message to raise awareness about autism. The Indian Navy and the Western Naval Command have extended their congratulations to the young athlete for her remarkable achievement. The Indian Navy also posted a congratulatory message on X,
@SwimmerJiya does it again!
All personnel of WNC convey their heartiest congratulations to Ms Jiya Rai for becoming the world’s youngest and fastest female para swimmer to successfully swim solo across the English Channel.@SpokespersonMoD@MoHFW_INDIA@HQ_IDS_India https://t.co/38gFKSrFtf pic.twitter.com/ECh6zmrzRF
— Western Naval Command (@IN_WNC) July 29, 2024
This is not Jiya’s first achievement in open-water swimming. She previously set a world record by swimming across the Palk Strait from Sri Lanka to India in March 2022, covering 29 km in just 13 hours and 10 minutes at the age of 13. Her achievements have been recognized in the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records.
Jiya’s swimming prowess has earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in 2022, the highest award for citizens under 18 years of age in India. Jiya has earlier held three world records in Open Water Swimming in 14 km, 22 km and 36 km para Category. her swimming record was appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Mann Ki Baat.
The young para swimmer is now on a mission to become the world’s first and youngest to swim across seven oceans. Her recent accomplishments include participating in a 1,100 km relay swim from Mumbai to Goa and back to Vasai Fort in December 2022, where she was the youngest and only female participant in a six-member team.
She has also accumulated an impressive tally of 32 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal in national and state open water sea swimming championships over the past three years.
