In recent months two para swimmers, have done India proud, transcending heights unscaled in open water Swimming, overcoming the most treacherous or unsurmountable barriers. They are a testimony that nothing is hard when you dare to scale the heights. Both were the epitome of willpower, dedication and courage.
Lakskay Krishna Kumar scales new heights
Lakshay Krishna Kumar, a young boy challenged by special needs, made history on October 9th, by becoming the youngest ever to accomplish feat to swim across the Palk Strait, completing a phenomenal 56-kilometer journey from Thalaimannar, Sri Lanka, to Rameswaram, India. Inspite facing hostile weather conditions, Lakshay battled the turbulent waters with unflinching resilience and successfully completed the swim in 22 hours. He carved a place in the World Book of Records, London.
The feat, was a testimony to Lakshay’s phenomenal willpower and resilience. It is an inspiration for our youth and children of India to overcome the harshest adversity to penetrate a new dawn in sport.
Lakshay’s feat was the result of the relentless and pivotal support of his parents and his committed coaching team, who banged every nail in the wall to prepare him for scaling this virtually unsurmountable obstacle. It transcended the boundaries of what is considered achievable.
Lakshay has already accomplished several exemplary feats, including sealing a spot in the Asia Book of Records by swimming the daunting distance between Neelankarai and the Kannagi Statue. The stupendous feat after months of tireless training.
Lakshay ha been practising under the tutelage of Sathish Sivakumar of Yadhavi Sports Academy for Special Needs Chennai, since she was six years old. For this event, Lakshay and his coach tolled for 6 weeks, alternately in the open sea and in the pool.
Despite harsh perils such as sting ray bites and skin allergies, Laskhay relentlessly tugged along and accomplished this feat. During the swim, Lakshay was assisted by 15 staff members, who steered the child to achieve the task without interruptions.
Jiya Rai’s record breaking feats
Earlier this year on July 24th ,16-year-old girl, Jiya Rai swam the English Channel from Abbot’s Cliff in England to Pointe de la Courte-Dune in France in a time of 17 hours and 25 minutes between July 28 and 29, encompassing a distance of 34 kilometres. In the 150-year history of Channel swimming, Jiya is the first girl with autism spectrum disorder to achieve this stupendous feat.
She is the daughter of Madan Rai, the MC-at-Arms serving in Mumbai. The Western Naval Command (WNC) congratulated the young para swimmer on her feat.
Inspite of her disabilities Jiya is determined to achieve the goal to become the world’s first and youngest para swimmer to swim seven oceans.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder, which affects the manner people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave.
In December 2022, she swam 1,100 kilometres as a part of a six-member relay team from Mumbai to Goa and back to Vasai Fort in 11 days, 22 hours and 13 minutes, turning into the youngest and only female participant of the team.
Jiya has also swum across the Palk Strait from Talaimannar, which is in Sri Lanka, to Dhanuskodi, which is in India. She completed a distance of 29 kilometres within 13 hours and 10 minutes and created a world record on March 20, 2022. Hence, she became the world’s youngest and fastest female to swim across the Palk Strait. Jiya has also won medals in the national and state open-water sea-swimming championships.
Harsh Thakor is freelance journalist who swam the English Channel and Lake Zurich Marathon in 1988.Thanks information from India Today, The Hindu, Maharashtra Sea Swimming group and The commune group .
