16-year-old Jiya Rai with autism creates history to swim across English Channel

Jiya Rai, a 16-year-old girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder, daughter of Madan Rai, MC-at-Arms II, Indian Navy, successfully swam across the English Channel, a distance of 34 kms, in 17 hrs 25 min and became the youngest and fastest para swimmer in the world to achieve this feat in solo swimming. In the 150 year history of the Channel swimming, Jiya is the first Autism Spectrum Disorder girl to achieve this.

Jiya started her heroic effort on 28 Jul 24 from Abbotts Cliff, England and finished at Pte De La Courte- Dune, France in the early hours of 29 Jul 24.

Jiya dedicated this swim for Autism awareness and in recognition of this endeavour, English Channel Sea Swimming 2024 from 21 to 28 Jul 24 was dedicated for autism awareness.

Who is Jiya Rai?

Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of two, Jiya Rai found her passion for swimming during daily park visits. Although non-verbal, her parents guided her through videos, leading to a thriving para swimming career adorned with numerous accolades.

The indomitable Jiya has won wide acclaim for her swimming prowess, including the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. In Mar 2022, she created a new world record for the fastest swim across the Palk Strait, crossing the 29 km stretch in 13 hours and 10 min.

She was awarded the prestigious Shriver-Kennedy Student Achievement Award-2023 for her performance in Open Water Swimming. This award was presented by the Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD) based at USA at a ceremony held at DADD’s annual conference in Clearwater, Florida on 19 Jan 2023.

She also participated in the 77th edition of Open Water Long Distance Swimming Competition organised by Murshidabad Swimming Association in Bhagirathi River on 03 Sep 23. Only 14 of the 24 participants in the 81 km event completed the swim in the stipulated 13 h 30 min. Miss Jiya completed the swim in 13 h 10 min and was the youngest and the only special child to have done so in the competition’s 77 years history.