By Ananya Kashyap | Opening Doorz Editorial | December 12, 2024
It’s not every day that one encounters someone whose words linger long after the conversation ends. Such was the case with Madan Rai, father of Jiya Rai, whose impactful words left a lasting impression after nearly an hour of conversation.
Jiya Rai, a 16-year-old para-swimmer from India, has made history as the youngest and fastest para-swimmer to cross the English Channel successfully. This extraordinary achievement has brought her global acclaim. As the first girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to accomplish this feat, Jiya has set a ground-breaking record in the 150-year history of channel swimming.
The daughter of Madan Rai, MC-at-Arms II in the Indian Navy, Jiya undertook this monumental solo swim at the age of 16. She completed the challenging 34-kilometer stretch in an impressive 17 hours and 25 minutes, beginning her journey on July 28, 2024, from Abbotts Cliff, England, and reaching Pte De La Courte-Dune, France, in the early hours of July 29.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition marked by repetitive behaviours, restricted interests, and challenges with social communication. In India, around 18 million people are diagnosed with autism, with 1 to 1.5 percent of children aged two to nine years affected by the condition.
Early Diagnosis and the Beginning of a Journey
Born in 2008, Jiya Rai was diagnosed with ASD on her second birthday. Now 16, Jiya is a spirited sportsperson with a pleasing personality. However, due to her ASD, she struggles with articulation, so her father, Madan Rai, often speaks on her behalf.
“The initial challenge we faced as parents was accepting that our daughter was a ‘special child’ and then facing society,” shares Madan Rai during our conversation. Reflecting on their early struggles, he recalls moving to a new park to avoid the name-calling and mocking that Jiya faced. This new park had a swimming pool, where a fun activity soon turned into Jiya’s gateway to greatness.
From Playful Splashes to Competitive Spirit
Jiya is amused at her father’s pride, giggling, as he explains his daughter’s initial struggles and her accomplishments. Regular visits to the pool in the new park transformed Jiya’s playful splashes into mastery of strokes like breaststroke and backstroke by the age of six. Encouraged by her parents, Jiya participated in her school swimming competition and emerged victorious, marking a turning point in how others perceived her. This led to her representing Maharashtra at the State Level in 2017, where she caught the attention of coaches, ultimately setting her on a path to greatness.
Overcoming Challenges Through Parental Dedication
Despite her accomplishments, Jiya’s ASD presented unique challenges, such as hyperactivity and difficulty in communication. When a coach refused to train her, Jiya’s mother stepped in, training under the coach herself to pass on the lessons to her daughter. “Indeed, a child’s first coach is their parents,” reveals Madan Rai. “Even though Jiya is non-verbal, she has keen observation power. She picked up skills and techniques by watching YouTube videos. This dedication saw Jiya excel at the State Level in 2017, placing fifth out of 200 participants in a 1-kilometer race, which paved the way for her to compete in longer events.
A National Record and Rising Recognition
Jiya’s breakthrough came on January 5, 2019, at a 5-kilometer race in Porbandar. Despite being initially excluded from the competition because of her ASD, she secured a spot and swam against experienced competitors, winning the race and setting a National Record. “When the race began, there was no commentary about Jiya.
As the race progressed, all the commentators had only Jiya’s name on their lips as she led the race. That moment reminded me of all who made fun of my daughter and us and doubted her potential. It reminded me of the people who chose to focus only on her disability and not her ability,” reveals a proud father who still gets goosebumps whenever he recalls this moment.
Breaking Barriers and Setting New Records
Jiya’s journey scaled new heights in February 2020, when she became the first para-swimmer to set a National Record for completing the 14-kilometer stretch from Elephanta Island to Gateway of India in 3 hours and 27 minutes. Over her career, Jiya has accumulated 39 gold medals and received prestigious accolades, including the Bal Puraskar, India’s highest civilian honour for children, and recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Mann Ki Baat program in 2021.
Conquering the Palk Strait and Beyond
In 2022, Jiya broke the world record for swimming the Palk Strait, completing the stretch in 13 hours and 10 minutes, surpassing the previous record set by Bula Chowdhary in 2004, (13 hours and 52 minutes). “This is the first time in sports history that a different-abled child has beaten the normal record,” reveals her father.
This achievement inspired her family to sign her up for the English Channel swim, a challenge that demanded rigorous preparation to acclimatize her to cold waters, rough seas, and jellyfish encounters.
A Future Full of Promise
Jiya’s successful swim across the English Channel has prompted her to attempt the Catalina Channel, a 31.6-kilometer swim in California. She will attempt this feat on September 25, 2025. Asked what his message is to parents with special children, Madan Rai says, “Being a special child is not a barrier to success or one’s life. Rather, it is a sign of strength. I would urge parents to recognise their child’s skill and actively focus on building on it. If you do that, one day you will be known by your child’s name. I am so proud that people refer to me as ‘Jiya’s father’ rather than just by my name.”
Jiya Rai in the waters… at a glance
School Swimming Competition (2017)
- Marked her first competitive swimming achievement.
- Emerged victorious and began gaining recognition.
Maharashtra State Level Championship (2017)
- Placed fifth out of 200 participants in a 1-kilometer race.
5-kilometer Race, Porbandar (January 5, 2019)
- Overcame initial exclusion due to ASD.
- Swam against experienced competitors and won, setting a National Record.
14-kilometer Stretch, Elephanta Island to Gateway of India (February 2020)
- Set a National Record with a time of 3 hours and 27 minutes.
- Became the first para-swimmer to achieve this milestone.
Palk Strait Swim (2022)
- Broke the world record, completing the stretch in 13 hours and 10 minutes.
- Surpassed the 2004 record of 13 hours and 52 minutes by Bula Chowdhary.
English Channel Swim (July 28–29, 2024)
- Youngest and fastest para-swimmer to cross the 34-kilometer stretch.
- Completed the swim in 17 hours and 25 minutes.
Upcoming Challenges: Catalina Channel Swim
A 31.6-kilometer swim in California, planned as her next major endeavour.
Also Read: 14-year-old Jiya Chawla shows us how to fight the good fight!
Also Read: Opening Doorz celebrates four, everyday extra-ordinary women!