IN AN extraordinary display of grit, determination and sheer willpower, 63-year-young city’s Dr Rajendra Jaiswal has set a milestone by completing a gruelling 25.65 km continuous swim in the Narmada River at Pipariya, Madhya Pradesh, recently. The feat, achieved in 8 hours and 13 minutes, has been hailed as the longest documented continuous swimming attempt in the Narmada River. Organised by Jai Mata Di Samiti, Pipariya, the event drew crowds of admirers, dignitaries, and local citizens who later gathered for a heartfelt felicitation ceremony to honour the ‘young at heart’ endurance athlete, popularly known as RJ.

 

What makes this achievement stand out even more is Dr Jaiswal’s age — he accomplished this demanding open-water challenge at 63, proving once again that fitness knows no age limits. Sources confirm that no prior official record existed for the longest continuous swim in the Narmada, adding extra weight to this milestone. “I was inspired by the Fit India Movement launched by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Through this attempt, my goal was to motivate the youth towards fitness, promote cleanliness of the Narmada River and encourage tourism in the region,” said Dr Jaiswal. A resident of Nagpur, Dr Jaiswal, who was born in Pipariya, has built a reputation as one of India’s most inspiring late-blooming endurance athletes.

 

At 62, he became the first Indian to complete the Full Ironman California in the USA. He has conquered a 161 km Ultra Marathon. He also holds a world record for running 81 km non-stop while carrying the Indian tricolour in just 12.5 hours. “Age is just a number when passion and preparation come together,” added Dr Jaiswal. During the COVID lockdown, he ran 85 km indoors in his drawing room over 13 hours without a break. The journey hasn’t been easy. About 13 years ago, doctors recommended knee surgery for both legs. Refusing to give in, Dr Jaiswal turned to disciplined training, physiotherapy and mental toughness to recover completely without going under the knife. Today, he stands as a living example of perseverance for youngsters across the country. Dr Jaiswal credits his success to NIS coach Sanjay Batwe, mentor Dr Amit Samarth, physiotherapist Dr Neena Sahu, Dr Sunita Dhote, Ganesh Khirsagar, Dilip Bhoyar, Sandeep Sharma, Manoj Rathi, his wife Vinita and countless others who stood by him.