Jiya Rai, an 18-year-old para-swimmer with Autism Spectrum Disorder from Navy Nagar, Colaba, became the first female para-swimmer to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming after finishing the 20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan in New York City on Sunday, August 30.
Jiya completed the 48-kilometre solo swim in eight hours and 53 minutes, becoming the first female para-swimmer and the first girl with ASD to achieve the feat in the event’s almost 100-year history.
Jiya dedicated the swim to raising awareness about ASD, as per an Indian Navy official.
“She began the swim from Battery Park City early in the morning and finished that afternoon. Vishal Jayeshbhai Harsh, deputy consul general of India in New York, felicitated her,” Jiya’s father
Madan Rai said while speaking to The Times of India.
The official said that the Manhattan swim is considered one of the world’s toughest open-water challenges, owing to powerful tidal currents, unpredictable weather, heavy boat traffic and changing currents.
Water temperatures of around 20°C in August can also heighten the risk of hypothermia.
Rai said that under the New York Open Water Swimming Association’s rules, swimmers aren’t allowed to leave the water or touch the escort boat or anyone accompanying them.
“Jiya was supported by HT Parekh Foundation, NWWA (Western Region), Bagwadia Foundation, Indian Oil and Mazagon Dock Limited. Her other achievements include solo swims across the Palk Strait in 2022, the English Channel in 2024 and the Catalina Channel in 2025,” Madan said.
“She was the first girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder to swim solo across the English Channel. Her honours include the WOWSA Award 2024, National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in 2023 and Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in 2022,” Madan added.
In October, Jiya became the first female para-swimmer to swim solo across the Catalina Channel near Los Angeles, USA.
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