Hassan Baraka (born April 10, 1987) is a Moroccan open water swimmer.[1][2]
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Tétouan, Morocco | April 10, 1987
Sport | |
Sport | Swimming |
Strokes | Open water swimming |
Career
editStarting his continent-swimming challenge in July 2013,[3] Baraka crossed the Strait of Gibraltar to link Europe and Africa, completing the 16.6 km swim from Spain to Morocco in 4 hours and 1 minute.[3] He holds the distinction of being the youngest Moroccan to achieve this feat.[4] In July 2014, he swam the Bosphorus in Turkey, covering 6.5 km in 57 minutes and 56 seconds, thereby connecting Europe and Asia. He further symbolically bridged continents by swimming 1 km between the Diomede Islands of Russia and the United States in August, followed by a 9 km swim from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia in September. In October of the same year, he completed a 28.8 km swim from Dahab, Egypt to Magna, Saudi Arabia, setting a Guinness World Record for "fastest time to swim the length of the Aqaba Gulf" (8 hours, 30 minutes, 42 seconds).[3][5]
In 2024, Baraka became the first Moroccan swimmer to successfully cross the English Channel, covering a distance of 55 km, marking the biggest achievement of his career. Baraka prepared extensively over several years, participating in numerous long-distance races in varying weather conditions. He completed the Channel swim in 15 hours and 55 minutes.[6]
Baraka is the first Moroccan to have completed the World Marathon Challenge. This challenge involves swimming seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.[7] He holds a record in Lake Aguelmam Azegza, swimming 1600 meters in icy waters, the maximum permitted by International Ice Swimming Association guidelines.[6]
References
edit- ^ AfricaNews (15 July 2021). "Le nageur marocain Hassan Baraka réussit la traversée du lac Baïkal". Africanews (in French).
- ^ "Khénifra : Hassan Baraka réalise une nage de 1.600 mètres en eau glacée et bat son record personnel". Map Ecology (in French). 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ a b c Munatones, Steven (2017-02-26). "Hassan Baraka, A Moroccan Swimmer Around The World". World Open Water Swimming Association. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
- ^ Staff Writer. "Hassan Baraka, youngest Moroccan to swim across the strait of Gibraltar". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ Latrech, Oumaima. "Moroccan Swimmer Hassan Baraka Sets Guinness World Record". Morocco World News. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ a b KHETTOU, Khadija (2024-07-15). "Hassan Baraka : Premier nageur marocain à traverser la Manche". Hespress Français - Actualités du Maroc (in French). Retrieved 2024-07-19.
- ^ "Hassan Baraka au World Marathon Challenge". Médias24. December 18, 2015.