Polish swimmer conquers Baltic Sea after 56 hours without sleep

An extraordinary achievement has been completed in the Baltic Sea.

Polish swimmer Bartłomiej Kubkowski has become the first person to swim from Sweden to Poland, covering more than 160 kilometers without stopping or touching the support boat.

Kubkowski set off from Kåseberga in Sweden and, after around 56 hours in the water, reached the shore of the Polish city of Dziwnów, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

Throughout the journey, he did not sleep or leave the water, while food and drinks were provided by his support team.

The challenge was so extreme that after around 40 hours, Kubkowski began experiencing hallucinations caused by exhaustion, but despite his physical condition, he continued until the finish.

This was his fifth attempt. In 2025, he had managed to swim around 159 kilometers, but was forced to stop just 11 kilometers from the shore due to extreme exhaustion and worsening weather.

For Kubkowski, this was not just a sporting challenge.

The Ultra Baltic Swim project has so far raised more than 715,000 zlotys, around 166,000 euros, to support the treatment of children with cancer.

A challenge spanning more than 160 kilometers, 56 hours without sleep and five attempts to achieve what seemed almost impossible. Bartłomiej Kubkowski has now secured his place in open-water swimming history.

Photo: Instagram/b.kubkowski