Masudur Rahman Baidya facts for kids

Masudur Rahman Baidya (born in 1968, died April 26, 2015) was an amazing swimmer from India. He made history as the first swimmer with a physical disability in the world to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Early Life and Challenges

Masudur Rahman Baidya was born in 1968 in a small village called Ballabhpur, in West Bengal, India. His family was not rich, and his father worked as an imam in a local mosque. When Masudur was just ten years old, he had a terrible accident involving a train. Sadly, he lost both of his legs because of this accident.

Becoming a Champion Swimmer

Even though he faced such a big challenge, Masudur did not give up. He loved swimming. In 1989, he took part in a swimming event in Pune, organized by the Artificial Limb Centre. He was incredibly good, winning first place in 16 out of 17 races!

He continued to show his amazing swimming skills. He even came in fifth place in two other tough swimming events. One time, he swam a long distance in the Ganges river near Kolkata. Another time, he finished fifth in a very long 81-kilometer swimming competition in Murshidabad, West Bengal.

Record-Breaking Swims

Masudur Rahman Baidya became famous for his incredible achievements in long-distance swimming.

Crossing the English Channel

In 1997, he made history by becoming the first swimmer from Asia with a physical disability to successfully cross the English Channel. This is a very cold and challenging body of water between England and France.

Conquering the Strait of Gibraltar

His next big achievement came in 2001. Masudur became the first swimmer in the world with a physical disability to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar. This strait is a narrow stretch of water that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. He swam from the Tarifa islands in Spain all the way to the shores of Morocco. This journey was about 22 kilometers (13.6 miles) long. He completed this amazing feat in just four hours and twenty minutes.

Later Life and Death

In his later years, Masudur faced health problems. He was diagnosed with anemia, a condition where your body doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells. His legs also became more impaired. Masudur Rahman Baidya passed away on April 26, 2015, at a hospital in Kolkata. He was 46 years old. His life story is an inspiration, showing how determination can help overcome huge obstacles.