Seventeen-year-old Jiya Rai, a para swimmer from Mumbai, has made history by becoming the youngest female para swimmer to cross the English Channel. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at an early age, she defied expectations and turned her challenges into strengths. Her extraordinary feat has earned her the prestigious World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) Award 2024 for Adaptive Performance, thus making her place among the world’s greatest open-water swimmers.

The WOWSA Honor: A Global Recognition

The WOWSA Awards, instituted in 2008, are the highest accolades in the field of open-water swimming. Recognizing exceptional swimmers, events, and organizations, these awards celebrate the dedication and resilience of open-water athletes worldwide.

This year, Jiya emerged victorious in the Adaptive Performance category, surpassing 177 nominees. A combination of Academy votes and over 6,000 public votes determined the final winners. She is now the first Indian open-water swimmer to receive this prestigious global recognition.

A Journey of Grit and Glory

Jiya’s swimming career began as a means of therapy to help her cope with ASD, but it soon transformed into an extraordinary passion. Supported by her father, Madan Rai, MC-at-Arms II, who serves in the Indian Navy, she took to the waters like a natural.

She first gained national recognition when Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded her achievements on his radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat’ in February 2021. However, her rise to prominence had begun long before that.

In March 2022, at just 13 years and 10 months old, Jiya swam across the Palk Strait from Talaimannar, Sri Lanka, to Dhanushkodi, India—a 29 km stretch—in a world record time of 13 hours and 10 minutes, making her the youngest and fastest female swimmer to achieve this feat.

Making Waves in Open Water Swimming

Jiya’s journey has been marked by extraordinary milestones:

• English Channel Solo Swim (July 28, 2024): Swam 34 km in 17 hours and 25 minutes, becoming the youngest female para swimmer and the first girl with ASD to complete the solo swim.
• Mumbai-Goa Relay Swim (December 2022): Swam 1,100 km in 11 days as the only female and youngest member of a six-person relay team.
• National and International Medals: Has won 32 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze in various state and national-level open water swimming championships.
• World Records: Holds three world records in 14 km, 22 km, and 36 km open-water swimming in the para category.

Her swimming achievements are registered in the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records.

A Young Champion with a Bold Mission

Jiya is not stopping here. She has set her sights on becoming the first and youngest para swimmer to conquer the seven oceans. 

For her contributions to sports and her inspiring achievements, she has been honored with:

• Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2022 – India’s highest award for citizens under 18.
• National Award for Disability 2023 – Recognizing her excellence and resilience in sports.

Jiya Rai’s story is an inspiration to millions. Her unshakable spirit and fearless pursuit of excellence in open water swimming challenge societal perceptions of disability. By pushing the limits of human endurance, she has not only made India proud but also ignited hope for countless young athletes worldwide.