Jiya Rai: 16-year-old with Autism swims 34 km across English Channel, breaks 150-year record

A 16-year-old girl, Jiya Rai, who has autism spectrum, achieved the remarkable feat of swimming across the 34 km wide English Channel in 17 hours and 25 minutes, making her the youngest and fastest para swimmer to do so solo. Jiya, daughter of Madan Rai, MC-at-Arms II in the Indian Navy, began her swim on July 28 from Abbotts Cliff in England and completed it in the early hours of July 29 at Pte De La Courte-Dune in France, as stated by a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release.

Her achievement is particularly significant as Jiya is the first girl with autism spectrum disorder to swim across the English Channel in its 150-year history. Jiya dedicated her swim to autism awareness. In recognition of her efforts, the entire span of English Channel Sea Swimming from July 21 to 28 was dedicated to promoting autism awareness.

Swimming the English Channel is notoriously challenging due to its treacherous currents, water temperatures of around 18 degrees Celsius in July that can induce hypothermia, and the presence of jellyfish and debris. Additionally, the Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with over 600 tankers, ferries, and other vessels crossing daily. The unpredictable weather conditions also add to the difficulty, making it nearly impossible to plan the swim in advance.


Swimmers must adhere to the Channel Swimming Association rules, which state that the swimmer cannot leave the water or touch the pilot boat or anyone accompanying them. Food and beverages are handed over by the boat crew using a long stick.

According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB) press release, "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."

Jiya Rai's accomplishment places her among an exclusive group of athletes, highlighting her extraordinary determination and dedication to raising awareness for autism.

(Inputs from ANI)