Rabat – Moroccan swimmer Hassan Baraka made history on Saturday by becoming the first Moroccan to swim across the English Channel, a distance of 55 kilometers separating England and France.
Baraka completed the journey from Dover, United Kingdom to Cap Blanc-Nez, France in 15 hours and 55 minutes. His feat was a culmination of years of extensive preparation and participation in long-distance races under varying climatic conditions.
Baraka faced numerous challenges during the swim, including cold waters ranging from 12 to 14 degrees Celsius, strong currents, and darkness, as he started his endeavor at 3:14 a.m. (British time) and finished at 8:04 p.m. (French time).
Born in 1987 in Tetouan, Baraka shared that he had to wait for improved weather conditions before embarking on the swim. He noted that the cold water, jellyfish, and strong currents were significant obstacles.
“The most important thing is that I crossed the finish line,” Baraka told MAP, expressing his pride in having Morocco now listed among the nationalities that have successfully completed the English Channel swim.
Baraka is also the first Moroccan swimmer to complete the International Marathon, which includes seven marathons in as many days across seven continents.
In addition, he boasts a remarkable record of other significant swims. These include crossing the Bosphorus and Gibraltar straits, as well as swims between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia (9 km in 3 hours and 46 minutes) and between Egypt and Saudi Arabia (28.11 km).
British swimmer Matthew Webb was the first recorded person to swim across the English channel without the use of artificial aids. He accomplished this feat on August 25, 1875. Webb swam from Dover, England, to Calais, France, covering approximately 34 km in 21 hours and 45 minutes.
