Jiya Rai: The Youngest and Fastest Para-Swimmer to Cross the English Channel
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Record Holder | Jiya Rai |
| Age | 16 years old |
| Location | Mumbai, India |
| Disability | Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) |
| New World Record | Youngest and fastest para-swimmer to cross the English Channel |
| Distance | 34 kilometers |
| Route | Abbot's Cliff, England to Pointe de la Courte-Dune, France |
| Time Taken | 17 hours and 25 minutes |
| Date | July 28-29, 2024 |
| Previous Record | Youngest and fastest swimmer to cross the Palk Strait (29 kilometers, 13 hours and 10 minutes on March 20, 2022) |
| Significance of English Channel | - First Indian: Mihir Sen (1958)- First Indian woman: Aarti Saha (September 29, 1959)- Fastest Indian: Anita Sood (8 hours and 15 minutes on August 17, 1987)- First person: Captain Matthew Webb (1875)- Most crossings: Chloe McCardel (44 crossings) |
| Mission | To become the world's first and youngest para-swimmer to swim across seven oceans |
| Previous Feat | Part of a six-member relay team that swam 1,100 kilometers from Mumbai to Goa and back to Vasai Fort in 11 days, 22 hours, and 13 minutes (December 2022) |
| Recognition | Congratulated by the Western Naval Command (WNC) |
| Support | Father, Madan Rai, serves in the Indian Navy; naval community supports her endeavors |
| Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) | A neurological and developmental condition affecting social interaction, communication, learning, and behavior |