Swims 160km Without Sleep for 56 Hours... "Human Seal" Kupkowski Succeeds in Crossing the Baltic Sea on Fifth Attempt
Polish Swimmer Bartlomiej Kupkowski
"I am so exhausted, it still doesn't feel real"
Bartlomiej Kupkowski, a 30-year-old Polish swimmer, has become the first person in history to successfully swim across the Baltic Sea from Sweden to Poland.
According to local media outlet TVP on the 3rd (local time), Kupkowski started on July 31 from Koseberga in southern Sweden and swam approximately 160 kilometers, reaching the coast of Dziwnow in northwestern Poland at around 8 p.m. on August 2.
In accordance with the rules, he did not take any breaks for sleep or by touching a safety boat during his swim and spent 56 consecutive hours in the water. On the second night, he reportedly experienced hallucinations. Upon reaching his destination, he staggered and sat down, saying that he was so exhausted that it still did not feel real to him when asked about the experience of crossing the Baltic Sea.
Nicknamed 'Foka' (meaning "seal"), this was Kupkowski's fifth attempt at crossing the Baltic Sea. The first and second attempts were halted due to severe weather, while strong currents caused the third to fail. During the fourth challenge, he lost consciousness just 11 kilometers from the destination and was forced to abandon the attempt. He had previously stated this would be his final try, and the journey was broadcast live online.
Since 2021, Kupkowski has been swimming across the Baltic Sea as part of the "Ultra Baltic Swim Project," also raising funds for cancer patients. Through this challenge, he reportedly raised approximately 600,000 zloty (about 230 million won) in donations.
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Kupkowski is regarded as one of Poland's top long-distance swimmers. He has won more than 40 medals at Polish national championships and, last year, set a world record by swimming 103.58 kilometers in 24 hours in a 25-meter indoor pool.
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