Swapnali Yadav won the women’s category and grabbed second spot in the Open category at the first Kimberley National Lake Argyle Swim, held in Western Australia. She clocked seven minutes, seven minutes and 24 seconds in completing the 20km open event. The Indian swimmer competed as a special invitee at the event organised by the Lake Argyle Swim Inc, under the auspices of Association of Swimming Australia.
At 12 years, four months and 25 days, she was the youngest participant and the first Indian winner in women’s, earning a mention in the Limca Book of Records. The Bombay Cambridge school student said: “I had seen Lake Argyle on the internet before.. It was a real challenge but I was confident of completing the swim. My dream is to represent India at the Olympic Games and swim the English Channel.”
Lake Argyle Swim Inc co-ordinator Taneille Anderson states: “Swapnali’s entry attracted plenty of attention. She braved the crocodiles, was an inspiration for other swimmers and is now the ‘Crocodile Princess.” The Indian girl, coach by Raju Palkar, trained at the Prabhodhan Thackeray Krida Sankul, Vile Parle and Ozone, Goregaon for the Australia long-distance swim.
