Hassan Baraka achieved a notable accomplishment on Saturday as the first Moroccan to complete a swim across the English Channel.
Baraka completed a 55 km swim from Dover, UK, to Cap Blanc-Nez in Pas-de-Calais, France, in 15 hours and 55 minutes, despite having to wait for favorable weather conditions.
The swimmer, originally from Tetouan in northern Morocco, encountered several challenges during his expedition, including jellyfish, cold water, and strong marine currents.
“The crucial point is that I completed the swim,” Baraka told the Moroccan News Agency (MAP).
He conveyed pride in his accomplishment and highlighted Morocco’s participation among the nations that have successfully completed the swim across the English Channel.
Baraka’s achievement is the culmination of years of preparation, including participation in long-distance races in a wide range of climatic conditions.
In addition to this accomplishment, Baraka has an exemplary record of completing the international marathon, having completed seven marathons in seven days on seven continents and swimming across the Bosphorus and Gibraltar straits.
He has also completed two notable open-water swims. The first was a 9 km crossing from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia, completed in 3 hours and 46 minutes. The second crossing was a 28.11 km swim from Egypt to Saudi Arabia.