Rupali’s record affair spans seven straits, six channels

APRIL 2: She has crossed seven straits and is the youngest to swim six channels in the world. But 18-year-old Rupali Repale's affair with ...

APRIL 2: She has crossed seven straits and is the youngest to swim six channels in the world. But 18-year-old Rupali Repale’s affair with record-breaking feats only endures and grows in strength. Last week, Rupali added one more feather to her cap by becoming the first woman to swim from Cape Town in South Africa to Robben Island and back in seven hours under trying conditions.

Rupali’s winning streak started on the Independence Day of 1994. At the age of 12, this dusky Maharashtrian girl became the youngest-ever to cross the English Channel in 16 hours (at present, that title is with a English swimmer). Like her earlier efforts, her latest achievement has not come easy: “It was really tough. The water was cold and there were rocks in abundance. I was badly bruised but that didn’t deter me from reaching my 34-kilometre goal,” says the fragile looking teenager, a B Com first year student of VJ Vaze Kelkar College, at her Bhandup residence.

It’s not just the bruises that she has to cope with. While swimming in the Bass Straits (Australia), Rupali had to swim in a cage as the stretch was shark infested. “I was hitting the sides, which had sharp edges and my finger and toe nails came out.” Then, during her trip from Sri Lanka to India, Rupali literally found herself completely at sea.

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“It was the most horrifying experience of my life. The support boat had developed a technical snag and since there’s no point in waiting for it, I decided to swim alone. My father told me he and the crew will catch up within minutes. It was pitch dark and suddenly, I found myself in front of a harbour. I had taken a wrong route! Luckily, the Navy helped me,” she narrated.

“This time,” she continued, “I was accompanied by dolphins and seals during the gruelling session.”

The frail girl with tall deeds explained her source of strength: “My earlier exploits motivate towards new goals while the inspiration comes from my father (Ramdas), whom I idolise. It was his efforts in raising the moneythat helped me having a crack at the English Channel.”

Rupali is a multifaceted talent. She is a tri-athlete. She left for Pune on Saturday to attend the State camp for the forthcoming National Cycling. “Cycling and triathlon help me in building stamina, though swimming is my first love.”

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Rupali is unsure about her future plans. “I was thinking of crossing the Panama Canal, but was refused permission. I might switch over to competitive swimming, though that has never been my cup of tea,” she said.

FACTFILE

RECORD HAUL:

1994: August: English Channel in 16 hours; October: Gibralter Straits in five hours

1995: February: Sri Lanka to India in 11 hours and five minutes; March: Mumbai-Dharamtar and back in 21 hours 30 minutes; September: Second in the Chinoy swimming meet at Zurich; Two gold at the National Triathlon meet in Chandigarh

1996: February: Bass Straits (Philip Bay to Melbourne) in 75 kms in 17 hours.

1998: Cook Straits in 19 hours and 45 minutes.

2000: Cape Town to Robben Island in seven hours