A Polish Swimmer Has Crossed The Baltic Sea For The First Time In History

• 3.08.2026, 19:01

He spent nearly 55 hours in the water.

Polish swimmer Bartosz Kubkowski made history by becoming the first person to swim across the Baltic Sea from Sweden to Poland, according to eurosport.tvn24.pl.

After covering more than 160 kilometers, battling sea conditions, fatigue, and his own physical limits, Kubkowski swam from the Swedish village of Koseberga to the Polish coast in the town of Dziwnów. The entire journey took him just under 55 hours.
The swim began on Friday, July 31, 2026. From the very start, he had to contend with extremely challenging conditions. Throughout the entire swim, he was unable to sleep and was not allowed to touch the support boat. Food and water were passed to him from the boat only using a special pole. It was not only a battle against the sea, but also a test of his body’s limits.

For Kubkovsky, this success is particularly significant, as it was his fifth attempt to cross the Baltic Sea. His previous attempts ended in failure, although each time he came closer to his goal.

The most dramatic attempt took place in 2025. On that occasion, the swimmer spent more than 52 hours in the water and nearly succeeded. He covered most of the route, setting personal records, but was forced to stop just 11 kilometers from the finish line. Severe exhaustion and deteriorating weather conditions prevented him from completing the swim.
This time, Kubkovsky withstood hours of intense strain and accomplished a feat that had long seemed nearly impossible. However, even at the finish, he had to overcome a crisis. When he was about 1,500 meters from shore, the swimmer paused briefly in the water and began asking the support team how much further he had to go. He couldn’t see the shore and lost his confidence. That’s when the team members encouraged him by telling him that a crowd of people was already visible on the beach. This helped him muster his last bit of strength and finish the swim.

At the same time, another Polish athlete, Karolina Szczepaniak, was also attempting to swim across the Baltic Sea. She chose a different route and was heading for the beach in the village of Poberowo. She spent 58 hours in the water, but ultimately her attempt was unsuccessful.