Polish Man Sets Record Swimming Across Baltic Sea for 55 Hours Straight, Raises $250K For Charity

Polish swimmer Bartłomiej Kubkowski made history last weekend by swimming for 55 hours nonstop across the Baltic sea.

Kubkowski became the first person to swim the 100-mile distance from Kåseberga, Sweden to Dziwnów, Poland without assistance, according to SwimSwam's Keith Dunlap.

The swim helped the Polish organization the Cancer Fighters Foundation raise more than $200,000, according to EuroNews' Katarzyna Kubacka.

The swim marked Kubkowski's fifth attempt at setting the record, per Dunlap. He was previously rescued from the water after losing consciousness with around seven miles left in 2025, Dunlap reported.

Kubkowski was given food and water on a pole from an accompanying support boat but did not touch the vessel during his journey.

Water temperatures were as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit during his swim, and Kubkowski reported hallucinations during the final stretch, according to Kubacka.

Video shows a visibly exhausted Kubkowski climbing out of the water and standing under his own power. He was taken to a hospital after the swim, according to Kubacka.