Satendra Singh Lohiya, an international para swimmer from Madhya Pradesh, achieved a remarkable feat by crossing New Zealand’s challenging Cook Strait. This accomplishment marks him as the first para swimmer from Asia to conquer this daunting open-water channel. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav praised Lohiya for this historic achievement, highlighting its significance.
Expressing his joy, Chief Minister Yadav emphasized the pride felt by both the nation and Madhya Pradesh due to Lohiya’s extraordinary accomplishment. Lohiya, a Padma Shri awardee and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awardee, has showcased exceptional determination and spirit through this feat. His success is expected to serve as an inspiration for future generations.
Despite limited mobility in both legs, the 38-year-old para swimmer has achieved numerous milestones in his career. Notable among these is his completion of a 33-km swim circuit in Mumbai within 5 hours and 42 minutes. Hailing from Gata village in Madhya Pradesh, Lohiya previously made history by crossing the English Channel in 2018 as part of a team and later accomplished the Catalina Channel in the United States in 2019.
Lohiya’s English Channel swim took 12 hours and 26 minutes, earning him the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award in 2020. He was recognized as the first para-athlete to receive this honor. Additionally, he received the Vikram Award, Madhya Pradesh’s highest state-level sports honor, in 2014, and the National Award for Best Sportsperson in 2021. His remarkable contributions to sports led to him being conferred the Padma Shri in 2024.
