Ace swimmer Elvis Ali Hazarika has once again etched his name into history by becoming the first Assamese swimmer to successfully cross the English Channel in relay mode, completing the grueling swim in 13 hours. This marks a significant milestone in Hazarika’s distinguished career, marking his 14th sea crossing and another proud moment for Assam and India.
The relay swim, which began at 1:30 AM, tested the endurance and spirit of Hazarika and his team. “With a lot of hard work, I have finally become the first Assamese to swim the English Channel in relay mode. It was extremely tiring — the swim, the overall endeavour. Joi Aai Axom,” said Hazarika in a statement following his achievement.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated the swimmer, calling it a “momentous triumph.” In a post shared by the Chief Minister’s Office on social media platform X, Sarma wrote: “Congratulations to Elvis Ali Hazarika on becoming the first Assamese to successfully swim the English Channel in relay mode. Completing the gruelling challenge in 13 hours, this marks his 14th ocean swim, a proud moment for Assam and the Nation.”
Hazarika has long been a trailblazer in long-distance open water swimming. In 2023, he became the first swimmer from Northeast India to swim the English Channel both ways in relay mode, covering a total of 78 km from Hampshire, England, to Calais, France, and back, in an astonishing 31 hours.
His swimming career has been punctuated by a series of firsts. In 2019, Hazarika became the first swimmer from Assam to cross the Catalina Channel in the United States. The swim, which connected Santa Catalina Island to Southern California, was a tribute to two Assamese youths, Abhijit and Nilotpal, who were tragically killed in Karbi Anglong. Hazarika completed the challenge on 15 August 2019, alongside teammate Rimo Saha of West Bengal, clocking in at 10 hours and 59 minutes.
Hazarika and Saha made further history in September 2022 by becoming the first Indian and Asian relay team to cross the North Channel in Europe, one of the most treacherous swims in the world, known for its frigid temperatures and strong currents.
In December 2023, Hazarika completed a solo swim from Elephant Island Jetty to the Gateway of India in Mumbai, braving rough seas and navigating through waters inhabited by jellyfish and large marine life.
Born on 21 December 1981, Hazarika began swimming at the tender age of one and a half and famously swam across Guwahati’s Dighalipukhuri by the age of four. He represented India in the 1999 South Asian Games in Kathmandu, participating in multiple events including the 50m and 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, and 200m individual medley.
Hazarika’s journey is not just a testament to athletic prowess, but also a story of perseverance, passion, and unwavering dedication to representing Assam and India on the global stage. With 14 sea crossings under his belt and several national records to his name, Elvis Ali Hazarika continues to inspire generations of swimmers across the region.