Teenager creates history!
Meet Jiya Rai! She’s a 16-year-old para-swimmer who did something amazing. She just became the youngest and fastest para-swimmer in the world to swim across the English Channel!
Jiya swam 34 kilometres from England to France in just 17 hours and 25 minutes. Everyone is cheering for her and thinks she’s super awesome!
About Jiya Rai.
Western Naval Command.
Jiya Rai is a fantastic swimmer. When she was just two years old, she was diagnosed with ASD, but she didn’t let that stop her!
Jiya loved swimming, and her parents helped her a lot. She became a star in para-swimming. In 2022, Jiya swam across the Palk Strait faster than anyone else and set a world record!
She has won many awards, including a special prize called the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.
Jiya dreams of swimming across all seven oceans, and everyone is excited to see what record she will break next!
How difficult is it to swim across the English Channel?
The English Channel is a narrow part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates England and France. It’s really long - 560 kilometres! But the narrowest part is just 34 kilometres wide, and that’s where most swimmers cross it.
The water is very cold and has strong currents. There are also ships, jellyfish, and floating things to watch out for.
The weather can change a lot, making it hard to swim across. Even though it’s tough, many swimmers do try to cross it!
What is autism spectrum disorder?
It is a mental condition that affects how people learn, behave, and talk to others. It doesn’t mean they need to be treated differently or made fun of. Everyone deserves kindness, respect, and support!
Jiya Rai has done amazing things even though she has ASD. She shows us that with hard work and support, we can all reach our dreams. She’s a great role model who can inspire others!
