Credit: Special Arrangement
Navi Mumbai: Indian endurance swimming sensation Anshuman Jhingran, a former student of Father Agnel Multipurpose School at Vashi, the satellite township of Navi Mumbai, has successfully crossed the English Channel, completing the gruelling swim from Samphire Hoe, Dover to the rocky cliffs near Cap Gris Nez in France in 15 hours and 49 minutes.
The swim began at 9:12 PM in rough seas and strong winds, testing Anshuman from the very first stroke. Through the night, he battled the channel’s treacherous waters, contending with unpredictable undersea currents that slowed his progress.
As he neared the French coast, a sudden shift in currents delayed his finish by over an hour. Summoning every reserve of endurance, Anshuman finally made landfall on the rocky cliffs to complete the crossing.
The swim was piloted by Eddie Spelling and officially ratified by an observer from the Channel Swimming and Piloting Association (CSPF).
Anshuman trains at the Agnel Swimming Pool at Father Agnel Sports Centre, Vashi, under the guidance of his long-time coach Gokul Kamath, who was present on the escort boat throughout the crossing. His coach’s rigorous training regime and unwavering support were, according to Anshuman, instrumental in making this achievement possible.
“The Channel tested every ounce of my mental and physical strength,” Anshuman said after the swim.
“The winds, the currents – everything was against me, but quitting was never an option. I owe a huge part of this success to my coach Gokul Kamath, whose training and encouragement kept me going when it mattered most. I also owe this to my parents, Sandeep and Kiran Jhingran, whose hard work, guidance, and constant belief in me have made this achievement possible.”
Anshuman will soon attempt the Tsugaru Strait in Japan, aiming to become the youngest male swimmer in history to complete the Oceans Seven.
With this crossing, Anshuman has now completed six out of the seven swims in the Oceans Seven – the marathon swimming equivalent of the Seven Summits in mountaineering.
His completed swims include:
North Channel (Northern Ireland to Scotland) – 35 km in 11 hours 28 minutes – youngest in the world to complete it.
Catalina Channel (California, USA) – 32.3 km in 8 hours 38 minutes – fastest Asian to complete the swim.
Cook Strait (New Zealand) – 26 km in 6 hours 58 minutes – fastest Asian to complete the swim.
Molokai Channel (Hawaii, USA) – 45 km in 14 hours 21 minutes – fastest Asian to complete the swim.
Gibraltar Strait (Spain to Morocco).
English Channel (England to France) – 15 hours 49 minutes.