United States: Hassan Baraka Becomes the First Moroccan to Complete the Full Manhattan Swim
Moroccan athlete Hassan Baraka has become the first Moroccan to swim around the entire island of Manhattan in New York. He covered a distance of 48.5 kilometers in 9 hours and 53 minutes, marking an exceptional achievement in the world of open water swimming.
Baraka began his challenge in late morning from the southern part of Manhattan, swimming counter-clockwise around the island and passing under 20 prominent bridges, including the famous Brooklyn Bridge, along the Hudson, East, and Harlem Rivers.
This competition, known as the “20 Bridges Swim,” is organized by the New York Open Water (NYOW), and it is considered one of the largest challenges endorsed by the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA).
In a statement to the Moroccan News Agency, Hassan Baraka expressed his happiness at representing Morocco in this achievement, emphasizing the symbolic significance of swimming in front of world landmarks such as the United Nations headquarters and his pride in showcasing the status of Moroccan sport.
