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Athlete Hassan Baraka achieved the remarkable feat of swimming around Manhattan Island in New York on Friday, covering 48.5 km and becoming the first Moroccan to accomplish this challenge.
Baraka began his swim late Friday morning (local time) from the southern tip of Manhattan, proceeding counterclockwise around the island and completing the course in 9 hours and 53 minutes.
The Manhattan swim, organized by New York Open Water (NYOW) and open only to top open water specialists through application, is part of the iconic swims circuit of the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA).
«I am honored to represent Morocco and to inscribe the name of the Kingdom within the framework of these achievements», the Moroccan athlete told MAP on this occasion.
He added that it was «very important for me to be able to swim here, alongside iconic sites such as the United Nations headquarters (…) and to reflect the renown of Moroccan sports».
The Manhattan Island circumnavigation, also known as the 20 Bridges Swim, passes through the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers, under 20 bridges, including the famous Brooklyn Bridge connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan.
Reflecting on his preparation, Baraka said he is physically accustomed to long-distance open water swimming. In July 2024, he became the first Moroccan to cross the English Channel, swimming the 55 km stretch between France and England.
However, he noted, «for this kind of challenge, 80% of the preparation is mental, given the difficulties and currents». Maintaining focus and motivation throughout the course was another major test.
A seasoned swimmer and long-distance specialist, Hassan Baraka has built an impressive track record. He holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest swim across the Red Sea, between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. He is also the youngest swimmer in the world to have swum across five continents (2014), the first Moroccan and flag bearer at the World Ice Swimming Championship (2019), and the first Moroccan to swim 500 meters at the North Pole without a neoprene suit (2022).
After three years of focusing on long-distance events, Baraka now plans to return to ice swimming, with the goal of competing in the inaugural African Ice Swimming Championship, scheduled for February 2026.
