Splash of success

On October 18, at 10 years, 10 months and 13 days, Swapnali Yadav became the youngest-ever in swimming history to complete the 10km Bermuda Round the Sound Open Swimathon in the Atlantic Ocean.

In the process  she also became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the under-12 category, a feat that has also set her up for a place in the next edition of the Limca Book of Records.

Swapnali was the only swimmer from India chosen by world governing body FINA to participate and represent her country in the 19th Bermuda Round of the Sound Open Swimathon, organised by the Bermuda Swimming Association under the aegis of FINA.

The standard six student of Raigad Military School, Oshiwara, Andheri, competed along with 256 top swimmers from around the world including Canada, Dubai, England and the US and clocked an impressive time of 3 minutes 52.21 seconds to clinch the gold. Swapnali was spotted by Subhash Desai at the OZONE swimming pool when she was just six years old. Later, she was moulded into a young long distance swimmer by Palkar.

“There is a lot more to achieve. In the near future, I hope to attempt significant challenges. I also hope my effort inspires other swimmers my age to achieve similar feats and much more,” Swapnali said.