AP govt teacher sets para-swimming record in Lake Bodensee

The 39-year-old Special Grade Teacher began the swim at Friedrichshafen in Germany and reached Romanshorn in Switzerland, crossing Lake Bodensee. The official Bodenseequerung organisation has recorded Ganesh’s successful para-category crossing.

According to reports, the swim was completed in water temperatures of around 16.5°C, adding to the difficulty of the challenge. Ganesh's timing bettered the earlier 5-hour-33-minute mark attributed to Germany’s Sven Eckardt, making his performance a significant achievement in the para-swimming category.

Ganesh’s achievement is particularly notable because of his journey from swimming coach to government teacher. He had worked as a swimming coach in West Godavari and Eluru districts for more than a decade before securing a teaching position through the Mega DSC-2025 recruitment under the sports quota for para swimming. He is currently serving as a government teacher in Andhra Pradesh.

The latest achievement adds to Ganesh’s record in long-distance open-water swimming. His previous international accomplishments include participation in challenging crossings such as the English Channel and Palk Strait.

Ganesh said the achievement was a significant moment in his life and dedicated the success to the Andhra Pradesh government for giving him an opportunity to serve as a teacher.

His record has brought together two very different roles — educator and elite para-athlete — highlighting his continuing pursuit of endurance swimming on international waters.