A sexagenarian from Kadekar has created a Golden Book of World Records on Monday, January 24 by swimming 3550 meters for five hours in the sea and that too with his hands and legs chained. He swam for five and a half hours without a break! He dived into the sea from Udupi’s Padukere beach shore at 7.50 AM and reached the destination at 1.20 PM.
The representative from the Golden Book of World Records who watched the feat issued a provisional certificate on the spot soon after Gangadhar reached the shore.
Another astonishing fact about international swimmer Gangadhar is that he became an expert in the waters at a ripe age of 60! Aged 65 years now, he has broken national and international records in the past five years. He has trained more than a thousand people in swimming. Gangadhar is an example that there is no age for achievements.
Gangadhar is the son of Malpe residents Gopal Mendon and Sundari Mendon. He is residing in Kadekar at present. He started swimming in the sea as a hobby in 2006, became an expert in various styles and began participating in state level competitions from 2009.