On July 3, 2026, at 1:30 a.m., Dr. Guruprasad Bhat, a medical oncologist from Mangalore, embarked on an extraordinary journey as part of a six-member team that successfully completed a relay crossing of the English Channel. The team, which included swimmers from diverse age groups and endurance backgrounds, achieved this feat in 13 hours and five minutes, making Dr. Guruprasad the first Mangalorean to participate in a successful English Channel relay swim.
The English Channel, often regarded as the Everest of open-water swimming, poses significant challenges, including powerful tides, cold water, unpredictable weather, busy shipping lanes, and jellyfish. Under English Channel relay rules, wetsuits are not permitted, and the team swam wearing only regulation swimwear, goggles, brightly coloured caps, and safety blinkers for visibility.
The team, led by preparation leader Srikaanth Viswanathan, an accomplished marathon swimmer and endurance coach, brought together experienced swimmers, including 14-year-old Arnav Joura, one of the team’s fastest swimmers, and 16-year-old Divya Mahajan, who had already completed a solo Catalina Channel swim. Other team members included triathlete Raghunandan Gangappa, commercial pilot Deepika Rana, and endurance athlete Ankita Konwar.
The team’s Channel attempt was originally scheduled for September 2025 but was postponed due to unfavourable weather conditions. During the intervening months, the swimmers intensified their preparations, focusing on cold-water acclimatisation through regular ice-cold showers and cold-water baths. Their opportunity finally came in July 2026, with the relay being piloted by Stuart Gleeson aboard Sea Leopard.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for Dr. Guruprasad, who has now completed five of the fourteen challenges in his ‘Double Summits’ journey. The team’s successful relay crossing also coincides with the centenary year of Gertrude Ederle’s historic swim across the English Channel in 1926.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalorean Gulf