Mayank Mhatre, an 11-year-old swimmer from Karanja, Uran, has created history yet again by swimming an 18-kilometer stretch from Gharapuri Port to Karanja Jetty, completing the feat in record time. Mayank, a sixth-grader at St. Mary’s Convent School, completed the challenging distance in 5 hours and 29 minutes—half an hour less than the expected time of six hours—on December 3, 2024.

This accomplishment makes Mayank the first swimmer to successfully traverse this particular sea route. His coaches lauded the young swimmer, declaring his achievement as a historic moment for sea swimming.

Sea swimming is Mayank’s passion, and his proximity to the coastal village of Karanja, Kondharipada, has nurtured his love for the sport. Known for his previous record-breaking performance on December 3, 2023, where he swam the Dharamtar to Karanja stretch, Mayank has now etched his name in history twice, covering two significant sea routes in the Mumbai division.

The young swimmer began his journey at 1:04 a.m. from Gharapuri Port, also known for its world-famous Elephanta Caves, battling the sea waves before reaching Karanja Jetty. His feat drew widespread acclaim from the local community and beyond.

To honour his achievement, Mayank was felicitated by youth leader Pritam Dada Mhatre of Shekap in a ceremony attended by several dignitaries, including Raigad district president of the Maharashtra Amateur Swimming Association, Raju Koli; organizational inspector Shailesh Singh; social worker Sachin Daur; and Nitinbhau Koli.

Mayank attributed his success to the unwavering support of his parents, his mentor Kishore Patil, and his coach Hitesh Bhoir. The effort was further supported by the Uran Taluka Amateur Swimming Association, with active assistance from secretary Sunil Patil, Manohar Temkar, and fellow swimmers Jaideep Singh, Aryan Modkharkar, Vedant Patil, Rudrakshi Temkar, and Arya Patil.