Epitomising unwavering spirit, endurance, Mumbai's Avinash Thadani conquered English Channel after 22-hr battle

By Harsh Thakor 

On August 25, 45-year-old Avinash Thadani from Mumbai pulled off one of the most stunning feats in the history of English Channel swimming. For 22 hours, he battled the stormy and gruelling waters of the Channel, symbolising relentless spirit, endurance, and boundless courage in a sporting domain rarely transcended. At moments, the quest seemed futile, but his never-say-die attitude powered him through the gravest adversity. 

Rarely in Channel swimming has tenacity reached such heights, evoking the sensation of rising like a phoenix from obscurity. Thadani’s journey was a reminder that even the direst situations can be overcome through sheer willpower. After 60,328 strokes, he touched the French shore. His triumph carried the aura of redemption, avenging his failed attempt in 2023.

On Saturday, Avinash received a red-carpet welcome at his sea-facing residence on Marine Drive. His alma mater was the Cricket Club of India swimming pool, where he trained regularly and received his baptism as a swimmer. Swimming was embedded in his family tradition, with his father teaching him to swim when he was merely six months old. Professionally, he is an entrepreneur who runs a creative agency.

He prepared for this challenge by training in England and Ireland, which acclimatised him to the bitter cold waters. A nutritionist and yoga instructor shaped his routine, while his friend Rustom Warden monitored his strength training. Originally a marathon runner, Thadani participated in the Ironman triathlon in 2019. His resilience was tested after an unsuccessful attempt to cross the Channel in 2023, which left deep scars. The failure was so traumatic that he left the sport for six months. Yet it ultimately rejuvenated his spirit, proving that adversity can be a stepping stone to success.

Earlier this year, he successfully swam the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka, adding to a long list of endurance feats that includes marathons and an Ironman multi-sport race in Copenhagen. Two months ago, he also completed an English Channel relay.

This solo attempt was fraught with challenges. After the first hour, he was plagued by jellyfish bites that took a heavy toll. Choppy waters struck his face, inducing seasickness, and he threw up three times. Despite his team supplying carbohydrate drinks every half hour, he struggled to maintain momentum. After eight hours of swimming, with no sight of the French coast, he was on the verge of giving up. But his mental fortitude infused fresh energy. His wife Pritha and childhood friend Neil Patel spurred him on with words of encouragement whenever he faltered. His coach from Bengaluru, Satish Kumar, meticulously charted his expedition. Only when the pilot lowered the dinghy at the very end was Avinash convinced he stood on the doorstep of glory. A surge of energy carried him through the final stretch. He pumped his fists in ecstasy after reaching the shore and celebrated with a bar of chocolate. It revived memories of my own successful Channel swim in 1988, when I completed the journey in a semi-unconscious state.

Masters swimming open water champion Zarir Baliwalla described Thadani’s feat as truly outstanding, one worthy of a place in the Channel swimming hall of fame. His accomplishment is yet another testament that endurance athletes over forty can still conquer unconquered heights. Avinash has epitomised the spirit of those who, even when facing the darkest waters, continue to battle against overwhelming odds.

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Harsh Thakor is a freelance journalist who successfully swam the English Channel in 1988