Rabat: Moroccan athlete Hassan Baraka completed an extraordinary feat by swimming around Manhattan Island, finishing the challenge in 9 hours and 53 minutes. Baraka started his swim from the southern tip of Manhattan and successfully completed the counter-clockwise circuit of the island, a swim organized by ‘New York Open Water’ (NYOW) and recognized by the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) for its iconic status.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Baraka expressed his pride in representing Morocco during this significant achievement. He emphasized the importance of swimming near monumental sites like the United Nations headquarters, reflecting the esteemed reputation of Moroccan sports. The 20 Bridges Swim, as the Manhattan Island swim is known, takes swimmers through the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers, passing under 20 bridges, including the renowned Brooklyn Bridge.

Baraka mentioned that mental strength played a crucial role in his preparation for the challenge. While he is physically p
repared for long-distance open-water swimming, he acknowledged that 80% of the preparation is mental due to the currents and challenges involved in the swim. Maintaining motivation throughout the course was key to his success, according to the Moroccan swimmer.

Hassan Baraka is not new to remarkable achievements in open-water swimming. He was the first Moroccan to cross the English Channel in July 2024 and holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest swim across the Red Sea. Baraka is also noted for being the youngest swimmer to connect all five continents by swimming in 2014, the first Moroccan to participate in the World Ice Swimming Championships in 2019, and the first Moroccan to swim 500 meters at the North Pole without a wetsuit in 2022.

After dedicating the past three years to long-distance swimming, Baraka plans to shift his focus back to ice swimming. He aims to compete in the 1st African Ice Swimming Championships, scheduled for February 2026.