55 hours non-stop: that is how long it took Polish swimmer Bartłomiej Kubkowski to become the first person ever to swim across the Baltic Sea. Kubkowski jumped into the water in Kåseberga, Sweden, and climbed back out two days and seven hours later in Dziwnów, Poland.
Kubkowski was naturally supported by a boat, but he was not allowed to touch the vessel at any point during the swim. Nor was he permitted to leave the water. Food and drink were passed to him using a pole, and Kubkowski naturally did not sleep. To officially complete the crossing, Kubkowski had to reach the beach under his own power upon arrival and remain standing without assistance. He succeeded, though the Pole was visibly exhausted.
This was not the first time Kubkowski had attempted to cross the Baltic Sea: this was his fifth attempt. He failed to make the crossing on his first four tries, and just last year, he was pulled from the water unconscious with only 11 kilometers to go. Through his crossing, he raised over 140,000 euros for “Cancer Fighters,” an organization dedicated to funding treatments for childhood cancer.
Alongside Kubkowski, his compatriot Karolina Szczepaniak also attempted the journey in an effort to become the first woman to swim across the Baltic Sea. She was pulled from the water after 58 hours, with roughly 40 kilometers remaining.