A team of four swimmers, led by Bengaluru-based swimmer Srikaanth Viswanathan, successfully crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in 4 hours and 33 minutes. The challenging open-water expedition between Spain and Morocco tested their endurance against strong currents, tides, and cold waters in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
The Team
The group comprised IRAS officer Shreyas Hosur (38), fitness icon and actor Milind Soman (60), resort director Tanvi Deore (35), and helicopter pilot Deepika Rana (36). All four maintained a similar pace for over four hours in the open water, a key requirement for the tandem solo crossing.
Preparation and Execution
Speaking to Times of India, Srikaanth described the crossing as memorable. The team was selected through qualifying swims in cold-water conditions to ensure physical endurance, mental resilience, and compatibility. They arrived in Spain a week before the swim on May 1 and trained twice daily to acclimatize to the cold water in Tarifa. The day of the swim turned out to be perfect, and the team completed it in an impressive time.
Swimmers' Backgrounds
Milind Soman, a renowned fitness personality, has completed multiple Ironman events and inspires many through his Pinkathon initiative. Shreyas Hosur, senior divisional finance manager with Indian Railways in Bengaluru, has participated in Ironman events and swam around Manhattan Island in 2025. Tanvi Deore, a Nashik-based resort director and mother of seven-year-old twins, swam the English Channel solo in 2024 and received the Chhatrapati Shivaji Puraskar in 2025. Deepika Rana, a Mumbai-based helicopter pilot, trained under Srikaanth and completed a relay crossing of the Catalina Channel in 2025.
Personal Motivation
Tanvi Deore shared her lifelong dream: swimming the English Channel since age nine after her father read her an article about it. The Gibraltar crossing is her second of the Ocean 7 challenge, and she intends to swim all seven.
