Success after 4 failures
If you spent 3 hours watching The Odyssey and held your breath with Odysseus's 10-year journey of struggling and fighting to return, you will surely understand part of what Bartlomiej Kubkowski went through.
Not to return but to conquer, not to become famous but to overcome the limit, the Polish swimmer became the first person to swim across the Baltic Sea (more than 160km) in the early days of August. It's simple to say, but the swimmer nicknamed "Foka" (Seagull) had to spend 4 years and 5 times jumping into the cold water to successfully conquer the journey connecting Poland and Sweden.
Swimming across the Baltic Sea is one of the most persistent challenges, almost miraculous, unimaginable or seemingly impossible to overcome in long-distance swimming. Athletes not only face dangers from extremely large distances but also from erratic weather, cold water, big waves and increasing physical fatigue.
For Kubkowski, the 160km journey across one of the coldest and most harsh seas in Europe is a patient diary recording the times he collapsed and stood up. Kubkowski had this idea from 2021 and first implemented it in August 2022.
The "Ultra Baltic Swim" challenge originated from Kołobrzeg (Poland) towards Ystad (Sweden). After 32 hours of bracing himself against storms and completing 115km, unexpectedly bad weather conditions forced him to stop.
In 2023, Foka rebuilt, changing the direction of swimming from Loderup (Sweden) back to Poland. He endured for 40 consecutive hours underwater, but the complex ocean current once again stopped his dream.
The 3rd time was in August 2024. Departing from Mrzezyno, luck still did not smile when severe seasickness and the harshness of the sea forced him to give up after nearly 19 hours of swimming and overcoming more than 70km.
1 year later, another failure, which can be considered the most regrettable. Starting from Kaseberga (Sweden), Kubkowski bravely fought for 55 hours, overcoming a distance of 159km. Only 11km away from Poland, he fainted, and the rescue team was forced to pull him onto the ship.
But that also means that he has been very close to his dream. There is no concept of giving up for the 31-year-old swimmer. And in August 2026, in the 5th time - with the journey from Kaseberga to Dziwnow, he reached the finish line after 56 hours.
More notably, during the challenges, he raised nearly 19,000 USD to the Cancer Fighters Fund to support pediatric cancer patients in Poland.
Nutrition and exercise regime for 56 hours of wrestling at sea
Kubkowski's historic success established new standards and conquered milestones that no one had reached in the sports world, crossing surreal and almost miraculous boundaries. His achievements are proof of perseverance and unwavering determination to reach the peak despite past failures.
And to complete one of the longest swimming journeys in world history, Kubkowski and his crew had to go through extremely strict training discipline and nutrition strategies.
According to marathon swimming rules, swimmers are not allowed to touch the boat or receive physical support. All nutrients are released by a pole/rope from the supply ship. Food is completely liquid: concentrated carbohydrate solution, anticonvulsant electrolytes and hot soup/warm broth. Consuming warm food every 30-45 minutes plays a vital role in maintaining body temperature.
Swimming in the sea consumes 8,000 to 10,000 kcal per day. Besides fast roads, his body is trained to convert fat as a base energy source. Before the campaign, Kubkowski actively increased his body weight slightly to create a fat reserve - acting as an "energy reservoir" and a natural insulation layer against hypothermia.
The foundation for 56 hours of sea swimming is thousands of hours of training. He spends 4-6 hours a day in swimming pools and open seas. In January 2025, he even set a world record when swimming 103.58km continuously in a 25m pool for 24 hours. In addition, participating in ice swimming helps his nervous system adapt well to the biting cold of the Baltic at night. On the shore, resistance exercises help strengthen the shoulder and core muscles to perform hundreds of thousands of strokes without muscle tears or tendonitis.
Swimming for 56 hours means having to stay up for 2 consecutive nights under the sea. Looking down at the black seabed under the ship's lights easily triggers panic and hallucinations. Kubkowski practices meditation while exercising, turning hand fanning and breathing into automatic reflexes to keep the mind stable even when the mind is completely exhausted.
His return after many failures is a lesson for anyone who is pursuing goals, going beyond sports or physical achievements.
