It was a sink-or-swim proposition.
In the pantheon of athletes pushing the envelope of human resistance, this swimmer has a well-earned place.
On Sunday (2), a Polish man became the first swimmer to cross the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Poland.
The Telegraph reported:
“On Sunday, Bartłomiej Kubkowski swam 100 miles (160km) from Kaseberga, in southern Sweden, to Dziwnów, on Poland’s northern Baltic coast, taking 56 hours.
Mr Kubkowski – the first person to complete the route – had attempted the crossing four times previously, but had failed.
During the swim, he was unable to sleep or touch the support boat that provided him with food and drink.”
Congratulations to Bartłomiej Kubkowski who just became the first person ever to swim across the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Poland.
He spent 56 hours in the water without sleeping and swam 160 km (100 miles). pic.twitter.com/DjC4RBoWoi
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) August 2, 2026
Bartłomiej Kubkowski Sweden Poland swim 160km open water pic.twitter.com/Yfh5ywoLAv
— subsaharian (@AdamBizi2) August 3, 2026
Kubkowski’s challenge has raised over $211,000 for Cancer Fighters, a children’s cancer charity.
“The 30-year-old first attempted the feat in 2021, and made it 71 miles. In 2022, he was forced to give up at 73 miles, and in 2023 he swam 81 miles during snowy conditions. In August last year, he was pulled from the water just seven miles from the Polish coast, having swum 99 miles over 55 hours, because of extreme exhaustion and deteriorating weather.”
Here is an image of the Poland-to-Sweden map.
The crowds in Dziwnów beach welcome him with cheers and applause as he arrived from the sea and collapsed in the sand.
POLAK PRZEPŁYNĄŁ BAŁTYK WPŁAW! 🇵🇱🌊
Bartłomiej Kubkowski dokonał rzeczy historycznej. Jako pierwszy człowiek pokonał wpław ponad 160 kilometrów ze Szwecji do Polski. Płynął niemal 55 godzin bez snu i bez dotykania łodzi asekuracyjnej.To była jego piąta próba. Rok temu zabrakło… pic.twitter.com/9PkfM38mOx
— Pani Prezes 👠 (@PaniNaSzpilkach) August 2, 2026
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