On Saturday, Moroccan swimmer Hassan Baraka became the first Moroccan to swim across the English Channel, a distance of 55 kilometres separating France and England. Within 15 hours and 55 minutes, Baraka completed the journey from Dover, United Kingdom, to Cap Blanc-Nez, France. His achievement followed years of extensive planning and participation in long-distance races under varying climatic conditions.
Baraka faced several challenges during the swim, including freezing temperatures ranging from 12 to 14 degrees Celsius, strong currents, and darkness, as he began his endeavour at 3:14 a.m. (British time) and finished at 8:04 p.m. (French time).
Baraka has a remarkable record of significant swims, including crossing the Bosphorus and Gibraltar straits. He also swam between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia (9 km in 3 hours and 46 minutes) and between Egypt and Saudi Arabia (28.11 km).
Born in Tetouan, Baraka, 37, 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 reporters, excited that Morocco is now listed among the nationalities that have completed the English Channel swim.
Baraka is also the first Moroccan swimmer to complete the International Marathon, which includes seven marathons in seven days across seven continents.
The first recorded person to swim across the English Channel without the use of artificial aids was British swimmer Matthew Webb on August 25, 1875. Webb swam from Dover, England, to Calais, France, covering approximately 34 km in 21 hours and 45 minutes.