Polish swimmer for the first time in history swam across the Baltic Sea. He spent almost 55 hours in the water
Polish swimmer Bartłomiej Kubkowski made history by becoming the first person to swim across the Baltic Sea from Sweden to Poland, writes eurosport.tvn24.pl.
After more than 160 kilometers of battling marine conditions, fatigue, and his own physical limits, Kubkowski swam from the Swedish village of Kåseberga to the Polish coast in the town of Dziwnów. The entire distance took him just under 55 hours.
The swimmer started on Friday, July 31, 2026. From the very beginning, he had to contend with very difficult conditions. Throughout the swim, he could not sleep and was not allowed to touch the accompanying boat. Food and water were passed to him only from the vessel using a special pole. This was not only a battle with the sea but also a test of his body's capabilities.
For Kubkowski, this success holds special significance, as it was his fifth attempt to cross the Baltic Sea. Previous attempts ended unsuccessfully, although each time the athlete came closer to the goal.
The most dramatic attempt was in 2025. At that time, the swimmer spent more than 52 hours in the water and had almost succeeded. He covered most of the route, setting personal records, but was forced to stop just 11 kilometers from the finish line. Severe exhaustion and deteriorating weather did not allow him to complete the swim.
This time, Kubkowski endured many hours of strain and accomplished a task that had long seemed almost impossible. However, even at the finish line, he had to overcome a crisis. When about 1500 meters remained to the shore, the swimmer briefly stopped in the water and began asking the support team how much further it was. He could not see the shore and lost confidence. Then the team members encouraged him with words that a crowd of people was already visible on the beach. This helped him gather his last strength and complete the swim.
The marathon swimmer made his swim a charitable event: he managed to raise more than 715,000 zlotys, or almost 200,000 dollars. He donated the money to the Cancer Fighters foundation, which helps children with cancer.
Simultaneously, another Polish athlete, Karolina Szczepaniak, was swimming across the Baltic Sea. She chose a different route and was heading for the beach in the village of Pobierowo. She spent 58 hours in the water, but eventually her attempt ended in failure.
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