Jiya Rai Becomes First Female Para-Swimmer To Conquer Catalina ChannelPhoto: ANILOS ANGELES, CA –Jiya Rai, a 17-year-old para-swimmer from India on the autism spectrum, has become the first female to complete a solo swim across the Catalina Channel in California. The daughter of Indian Navy officer Madan Rai, MC-at-Arms II, Jiya has earned global recognition for her open-water achievements. In 2023, Rai successfully crossed the English Channel in 17 hours and 25 minutes, becoming the youngest and fastest para-swimmer worldwide to do so solo. According to the Association, fewer than 1,700 people have completed the Channel swim in the past century—fewer than those who have summited Mount Everest. Rai continues to dedicate each of her swims to raising awareness about autism, combining athletic accomplishment with a social message.