Mumbai’s Avinash Thadani solo swims across English Channel in 22 hrs!

Battling strong currents, biting cold, jellyfish stings and seasickness, 45-year-old Avinash Thadani from Mumbai successfully completed a solo swim across the English Channel. The 32-kilometre crossing took him 22 hours, starting from Shakespeare Beach in England and ending at France’s Cap Gris Nez.

Thadani first attempted the Channel in 2023 but was forced to quit after 10 hours. He returned stronger, training relentlessly in Mumbai’s Cricket Club of India pool and in the icy waters of Ireland. Earlier this year, he also completed a relay swim across the Channel and swam the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka.

Preparing for the feat involved more than stamina. Thadani worked with a nutritionist, yoga instructor, and strength coach while acclimating to water temperatures of 16–18°C. Originally a marathon runner and Ironman triathlete, he built both physical resilience and mental grit to withstand long hours in punishing conditions.

Swimming has been part of Thadani’s life since infancy, when his father taught him to swim at six months old. Now an entrepreneur, he continues a family tradition, joining a list of over 60 Indians who have crossed the Channel, a challenge first conquered by Mihir Sen in 1958.

With over 60,000 strokes behind him, Avinash Thadani touched French soil, fists raised in triumph. Throughout the swim, Thadani drew strength from his wife Pritha, childhood friend Neil Patel, coach Satish Kumar and a dedicated crew who kept him fuelled with carbohydrate drinks. His journey stands as a reminder that determination and discipline can turn even the toughest failures into extraordinary victories.