52-year-old Goli Shyamala swims 150 km from Visakhapatnam to Kakinada

Hyderabad: In an age-defying feat, a 52-year-old woman, Goli Shyamala, swam 150 km in the Bay of Bengal from Visakhapatnam to Kakinada in five days, averaging 30 km per day.

Shyamala, who used to run an animation studio in Hyderabad, had started swimming late in her early forties and swam in the Palk Strait, Catalina Channel, and also in the Lakshadweep Islands earlier.

A team of observers, scuba divers, physiotherapists, doctors, large boats, and a small vessel supported her efforts. She used to get onto the boat for lunch and also at night for sleep. She swam from RK Beach in Visakhapatnam to NTR Beach in Kakinada. She started in Visakhapatnam on the afternoon of December 28 and reached Kakinada on Friday.

Shyamala said she underwent rigorous training following a strict diet and routine before embarking on this 150 km-long open-sea endurance swimming. Yoga and meditation had also helped her achieve this feat, she added.

“I feel proud to say I am 52 years old. I had some issues only one day due to the sea sickness and health issues of the crew who have been helping me. I came across numerous tortoises throughout my journey to Kakinada. It is as if they were interacting with me, seemingly curious about my identity. It was a wonderful feeling. The tortoises touched my feet and hands. They swam with me. I really felt happy. There are small and big tortoises. Jellyfish had troubled me a bit," Shyamala said, recounting her swimming experience.

She had also encountered a large whale on her journey. "I came across a giant whale also. Actually, whales are friendly. However, to avoid any unnecessary risks, the crew advised me to board the boat. Although whales are friendly, it's human nature to panic when we encounter such a large and majestic creature. The crew provided invaluable assistance during that situation,” Shyamala further explained.

She had also expressed concerns over pollution in the sea. "At two stretches, it was heartbreaking to see the carcasses of tortoises. They were floating on the sea. I found the pollution at those two stretches extremely uncomfortable to swim in. I think it was chemical. I have observed numerous instances of waste. Government should focus on this aspect,” she added.

Shyamala also said she feels proud of this achievement, as it was a two-year-long dream. “It was a two-year dream. I went through intense and rigorous training. You feel like eating everything, but you can't. I maintained control over eating habits by adhering to a strict and disciplined lifestyle for two years. I practiced 10 to 20 km of swimming every day, along with workouts at the gym, yoga, and meditation. With all of this, I was able to swim such a long distance," she added.