Para swimmer Aalam sets world record in open water | More sports News

In his constant bid to achieve something new as a paraplegic swimmer, Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh created a world record on Sunday. The para-athlete from the village of Rathaus in Bihar’s Madhubani district became the first swimmer with paraplegia to successfully complete the longest swim in open water at National Takshila Open Water Swimming Competition in Patna.
Aalam’s feat was officially acknowledged and certified by the World Records Union on Sunday.
Aalam covered the 13 km distance from Janardan Ghat to Law College Ghat along the river Ganga with a timing of 2:03:13 and was placed 32nd among 50 participants, which included another para swimmer Anil Kumar from Patna. The event, hosted by the Swimming Federation of India (SFI)-affiliated Bihar Swimming Association (BSA), was in its 14th edition this year.
After completing the event, Shams told TOI from Patna, “Things went as I expected. I was thinking it would take about one hour and forty-five minutes but due to the very late start of the event my body got dehydrated, so it took a bit longer than what I expected. It was scheduled to start at 11am but finally it started around 12:30pm. Overall, it went well.”
“Actually, this isn’t my first venture into open water, I’ve done it before. But this is the biggest one. In 2019, I did a 2km swim in the Ganga, which was a fast swim. I was eagerly waiting for this event because it used to happen every year, but it didn’t take place for the last two years. I know if I complete it, it will set a record,” Aalam added.
Asked about the challenge this type of open water swimming poses, the 38-year-old explained, “When I found out about the competition this time, I started preparing. The best part is that my national championship recently ended. When we train for short distances, we mostly focus on speed, but for long distances, we work more on endurance because we have to cover a long stretch. I think this competition came at the right time after my national championship, and it’s the first big one for me at 12-13km.”
In the 24th National Para Swimming Championship held in Goa from October 19-22, Aalam has won one gold in 200M Individual Medley (SM5 category), one silver in 100M freestyle and a bronze in 100M butterfly.
Elaborating further on the differences of swimming in a pool and in open water, Aalam said that, “Swimming in a pool is quite tough because the water is stable, and we have to push through it. In sea or river swimming, if the current flows with you while swimming, it becomes a bit easier. For example, swimming 3km in a pool in one session is approximately equivalent to 6-7km here (open water). So, pool swimming is more challenging and tough than sea or river swimming.”
“But in a pool the water is clear, and there is no fear of anything. However, in rivers, there is a fear that a jellyfish or some other water animal might come. Since there was Chhath Puja a couple of days ago, many things could be in the water that might hurt you and suddenly scare you. So, there’s little concern sometimes. But I am happy that it went very well today,” concluded Aalam.