Jiya Rai has started another chapter in Indian sports as the first female para-swimmer to win the prestigious Open Water Swimming Triple Crown. The 18-year-old Indian swimmer, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, completed the challenging 20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan on August 30.
Rai completed the demanding open-water event in 8 hours and 53 minutes, another great achievement in her already inspiring swimming career. It puts her in the rare group of athletes who have completed one of the most difficult combinations of long-distance open-water swimming events.
The Open Water Swimming Triple Crown is considered one of the most prestigious achievements in the sport. The success of such a competition is a testament to the strength of the physical stamina and mental toughness required to prepare and perform in any unknown environment. Open water swimming, unlike pool swimming, is the physical environment of the athlete with changing currents, water temperatures, weather conditions and long distances.
For Jiya Rai, the achievement is the culmination of years of determination and hard work. At only 18 years old, she is already one of India’s most celebrated young open-water swimmers. Her story also inspired many, in particular because she has continued to pursue her sporting ambitions despite having Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The final part of her Triple Crown journey was the 20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan. Swimmers race around Manhattan Island, traveling through open water in a demanding sense and the challenge of changing currents and difficult conditions is high.
The swim was completed in less than 9 hours, which was a very impressive performance of endurance. Rai’s 8 hours and 53 minutes finishing time for that swim demonstrated that she did prepare and become a champion in one of the most demanding open-water swimming competitions in history.
Open-water swimming takes a different kind of physical and mental skills to achieve. Swimmers need to keep a rhythm over lengthy distances and work with factors outside of their control. The current has a lot to do with speed and direction but changes in water conditions can change the course so that every part of the course is different from the last.
Mental strength is equally important. Long-distance swimmers spend hours in the water, far away from familiar places. In a situation where fatigue sets in, you keep going, and you can’t rest the same way and you can’t let go.
VIDEO | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Eighteen-year-old para-swimmer Jiya Rai has become the world's first female para-swimmer to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 2, 2026
Rai, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), completed the 48-km 20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan in New… pic.twitter.com/yLpzP36DvB
Jiya Rai’s historic accomplishment is especially important for Indian para-sports. She has made a difference in the recognition of athletes of differing abilities and showed the world what is possible (as long as you work hard and can always be supported) to be a great sport.
Rai is the first female para-swimmer ever to capture the Open Water Swimming Triple Crown and it is a record that I hope will be shared with young athletes to help inspire them to become better athletes.
Rai’s journey has also brought attention to the world of open-water swimming in India. Cricket and a lot of other sports are all the more popular but endurance sports are also increasingly popular and in India we see India’s success in different international sports.
Jiya Rai’s future is bright at only 18 and is the sport’s next great thing. To complete such a great challenge at such a young age is an extraordinary achievement and lays the groundwork for what she will do in the future.
Her success is not just about a series of difficult swims. It is also a story of perseverance, courage and determination. Every long-distance open-water challenge requires countless hours of training, preparation and discipline before the swimmer even enters the water.
Jiya Rai has now made all the effort of those years a historical accomplishment. She is now the first female para-swimmer to complete the Open Water Swimming Triple Crown and so she has a special place in the history of sport.
She is an inspiration for future swimmers, young athletes and anyone who wants to take their dream forward. At 18, Jiya Rai has shown that determination and resilience can enable an athlete to overcome great challenges and achieve remarkable things.
