Rashmi completes double conquest of English Channel

Kolkata: 19-year-old Rashmi Sharma has become the youngest Indian woman to cross the English Channel twice, when she completed the 34 kilometre distance in a little over 13 hours, according to information received here. Rashmi, who successfully swam the Channel for the first time on July 19 last year, completed her double conquest in the wee hours, said family sources.

Rashmi, a city girl, started her swim at Samphirer Hoe Beach of England`s Dover City at 1150 am (IST) Friday.

She emerged ashore from the ice-cold waters at Cross Gris Nez of Calais, France, at 12-55 am (IST) Saturday morning, the sources said.

"However, we don`t have the official time yet," they said.

Rashmi is the second Indian woman to cross the English Channel twice. Celebrated swimmer Bula Chowdhury conquered the English Channel in 1989 and 1999. The sources said though the distance was 34 kilometres, she had to swim eight to nine kilometres more because of the current.

Rashmi took her first lessons in swimming at the Khidirpore Swimming Club, and considers her mother Kiran Sharma as her main inspiration.

Expressing joy over Rashmi`s feat, Bula said, "It`s a great achievement. Crossing the English Channel is the toughest of assignments for a swimmer. The water is biting cold. One needs to have extreme perseverance and tenacity to succeed. I congratulate her".

Bureau Report