Stories
At Special Crawl Foundation, we are dedicated to building a more inclusive world for children with special needs.
Empowering Jiya Rai
16-year-old with Autism swims 34 km across English Channel, breaks 150-year record
Jiya Rai, a 16-year-old girl with autism spectrum disorder, made history by swimming across the English Channel in 17 hours and 25 minutes. As the youngest and fastest para swimmer to complete this feat solo, Jiya dedicated her swim to autism awareness. Her remarkable achievement overcame numerous challenges, including treacherous currents, cold water temperatures, and busy shipping lanes, placing her among an elite group of athletes who have conquered the Channel.
5 Key Highlights:
- Jiya Rai is the youngest and fastest para swimmer to cross the English Channel solo.
- She completed the 34 km swim in 17 hours and 25 minutes.
- Jiya is the first girl with autism spectrum disorder to swim the Channel in its 150-year history.
- The swim was dedicated to promoting autism awareness.
- Crossing the English Channel is considered more challenging than scaling Mount Everest, with only about 1,700 people accomplishing it in the last 100 years.
Miracle Kid Varun Chand
Autistic Swimmer Varun Chand: From Therapy to Gold Medals – A Triumph Over Adversity
Varun Chand, a 25-year-old autistic swimmer from Hyderabad, has defied expectations by winning three gold medals at the Indo Sri Lankan International Master’s Swimmers Meet. Diagnosed with mild autism and moderate mental disorder at age five, Varun began swimming as therapy and has since won 14 medals in various international and national events.
5 Key Highlights
- Varun Chand, an autistic swimmer, won three gold medals competing against non-disabled swimmers in Sri Lanka.
- He has earned 14 medals, including seven gold, in various international and national events.
- Swimming, initially recommended as therapy, significantly improved Varun’s communication skills and social interaction.
- Varun’s coach, Suresh, adapted training methods to suit his unique needs, leading to his success.
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