Eighteen months after swimming across the 30-km Messinikos
Gulf in Greece at the tender age of eight, a schoolgirl
from the city, Swapnali
Yadav has earned an entry in the "Limca Book of Records"
for that feat.
Swapnali's entry in the 2008-09 edition of the book has
been accepted and she has received a certificate to this
effect from its publishers, her father told reporters on
Tuesday.
On September 1, 2007, Swapnali, now studying in standard
V in Andheri, became the youngest-ever in open marathon
swimming history to achieve the feat. Later the world swimming
body, FINA decided not to allow swimmers below the age of
17 to attempt the Messinikos Gulf Swim.
"We sent the documents to the publishers after the
decision of FINA, taken last year, ensured that she will
be the youngest ever swimmer to do the feat in 11 hours,
ten minutes. We received the certificate earlier this month
and the book is set to hit the stands soon", Swapnali's
father said.
With the Swimming Federation of India also following suit
in disallowing children below 14 to take part in long distance
swimming, Swapnali has turned her attention to competitive
events in pools.
She trains daily in the morning and evening at Andheri
and Goregaon and her pet events are 200m breast stroke and
butterfly, Swapnali's father said.
Source: PTI
