Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh): Andhra-based swimmer Tulasi Chaitanya has scripted history by crossing the Catalina Channel in the USA, as he became the first Indian cop to achieve this feat.
Such is the magnitude of Chaitanya's achievement that it has become the talk of the town. He became the first person from Telugu states to cross the Catalina Channel (from Santa Catalina Island to Mainland America), covering a distance of 34 km in 12 hours 40 minutes.
Elaborating on his preparation, he says, "Ocean is a challenge, as you have to be in a cut costume and you need to have some experience. Earlier, I swam Palk Strait and hence became eligible for the feat."
He further added that you have to acclimatize yourself to the cold weather, as there are no particular precautions. He had trained at a pool in Bengaluru, where the climate was comparable, to some extent.
It is to be noted that there are seven channels across the seven oceans, and Catalina, across the Pacific Ocean, is the second toughest one among them.
"After my victory, I was so exhausted that I was literally lying on the shores. But it’s an incredible feeling," recalls the Telugu lad, who is currently working as a Head Constable in the AP Police Department.
However, the youngster acknowledges that he could not have achieved his feat alone and thanked his coach Pradeep Kumar and all others who helped him to achieve this feat.
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