Jiya Rai, a 16-year-old from Mumbai, India, has etched her name in history as the world’s youngest and fastest para swimmer to conquer the English Channel. She completed the grueling 34-kilometer swim from Abbot’s Cliff in England to Pointe de la Courte-Dune in France in a remarkable 17 hours and 25 minutes, achieving this feat between July 28 and 29. Jiya, who lives with Autism Spectrum Disorder, is the daughter of Madan Rai, an MC-at-Arms serving in Mumbai. The Western Naval Command (WNC) showered praise on the young swimmer, commending her extraordinary achievement. The WNC, in a message on X, formerly Twitter, congratulated Jiya, highlighting her inspiring journey.
This is not Jiya’s first remarkable feat. She previously swam across the Palk Strait, covering 29 kilometers from Talaimannar (Sri Lanka) to Dhanuskodi (India), in a record-breaking 13 hours and 10 minutes on March 20, 2022. This accomplishment solidified her position as the world’s youngest and fastest female swimmer to cross the Palk Strait. Jiya’s dedication to her passion for swimming extends beyond individual achievements. She was a key member of a six-person relay team that swam a remarkable 1,100 kilometers from Mumbai to Goa and back to Vasai Fort in 11 days, 22 hours, and 13 minutes in December 2022. She was the youngest and only female participant in this arduous journey.
Jiya’s unwavering spirit and determination have earned her recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who highlighted her achievements during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode on February 18, 2021. Her accomplishments have been officially documented in the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records. She has also garnered medals in national and state open-water sea-swimming championships. With her sights set on becoming the world’s first and youngest para swimmer to swim seven oceans, Jiya’s journey continues to inspire and ignite hope for individuals with disabilities, demonstrating that anything is possible with passion and perseverance.
