Bengaluru swim team completes historic Catalina Channel double crossing, 12th ever since 1991
Synopsis
A six-member Masters swimming team from Bengaluru has done what no Asian team had done in 35 years: a double crossing of the Catalina Channel, completed in near-total darkness during a new-moon night in 29 hours and 24 minutes. These are technology executives and entrepreneurs — not professional athletes — which makes the 12th-ever completion of this feat all the more striking.
Key Takeaways
SwimLife Orcas from Bengaluru completed the Catalina Channel double crossing on 10–11 September 2026 in 29 hours and 24 minutes , subject to ratification.
The feat is only the 12th successful double crossing since 1991 and reportedly the first by an Asian team .
The team was guided by Coach Satish Kumar Mohan , Vice President of the Swimming Federation of India .
Srinivasa met the team in Los Angeles and called the achievement a matter of pride for India.
Siddhartha Agarwal , one of the six swimmers, holds a Limca record as the oldest Indian to solo-cross the English Channel.
Each team member completed five hours of open-ocean swimming, including navigation through near-total darkness during a new-moon night.
The SwimLife Orcas, a Masters swimming team from Bengaluru, have completed a historic double crossing of the Catalina Channel off the coast of Southern California — only the 12th successful double crossing since 1991 and, according to the team's expedition report, the first by an Asian team. The feat was achieved on 10–11 September 2026, in a time of 29 hours and 24 minutes, subject to final ratification.
A Meeting with the Consul General
Consul General of India in Los Angeles, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, met and interacted with the six-member team following their achievement. He warmly congratulated the swimmers and their coach, commending their physical endurance, mental resilience, discipline, and teamwork. Dr. Srinivasa noted that the accomplishment was a matter of pride for India and the Indian community across the United States, and particularly appreciated the team for raising the Indian Tricolour on the shores of Southern California after completing one of open-water swimming's most demanding challenges.
Who Are the SwimLife Orcas
The team was guided by Coach Satish Kumar Mohan, 49, Founder of SwimLife Academy, Vice President of the Swimming Federation of India, and Secretary of the Karnataka Swimming Association. The six swimmers who completed the crossing are accomplished professionals from India's technology and business sectors:
Meghana Mayya, 48, Senior Director–Technology at Lowe's India; Varuna Mayya, 43, Principal Technical Specialist at Nokia Networks; Sindhu Naropanth, 41, Senior Tech Program Manager at Walmart Global Technologies; Nikhil Mysore Manjunath, 35, Associate Director at LTIMindtree; Siddhartha Agarwal, 52, Founder of Bhoruka Park; and team captain Sumanth Naropanth, 45, founder of Indian cybersecurity companies Deep Armor and Gauntlet.
Notably, Siddhartha Agarwal holds a Limca record for being the oldest Indian swimmer to successfully cross the English Channel, and has completed multiple relay and solo channel crossings. Several team members have previously competed at State, National, and International Masters championships and have participated in relay crossings of the English Channel, Catalina Channel, and Palk Strait.
The Scale of the Challenge
The Catalina Channel stretches approximately 32 kilometres between Santa Catalina Island and the Southern California mainland. Currents, winds, and ocean swells substantially increase the effective swimming distance beyond the linear measurement. The relay was conducted in one-hour rotations under Catalina Channel Swimming Federation regulations and was monitored by official observers throughout.
The team set off from the mainland at 8:17 a.m. on 10 September. After completing the first leg shortly after midnight, the swimmers immediately commenced the return journey. Much of the challenge was undertaken during a new-moon night in near-total darkness, with the team navigating cold waters, shifting currents, fatigue, and deteriorating sea conditions. By the expedition's end, each team member had logged five hours of open-ocean swimming.
Why This Achievement Matters
This is the first time an Asian team has completed a double crossing of the Catalina Channel since the feat was first recorded in 1991 — a span of 35 years in which only 11 other groups had managed it. That the SwimLife Orcas accomplished this while balancing demanding careers in technology and business adds another dimension to the achievement, reinforcing a growing trend of Indian professionals excelling in extreme endurance sport on the global stage.
Dr. Srinivasa observed that the feat exemplified the determination and excellence of contemporary India, and expressed the hope that the Orcas' accomplishment would inspire more young Indians, women, and professionals to pursue swimming, fitness, and adventure sports.
Point of View
But of senior technology executives and entrepreneurs who trained alongside demanding careers to complete a feat only 11 other groups worldwide had managed in 35 years. That context is largely missing from the diplomatic-ceremony framing that most coverage will default to. The 'first Asian team' claim, if ratified, also has geopolitical resonance in a sporting world where China and Japan have well-funded open-water programmes. Whether this achievement translates into institutional support for Masters open-water swimming in India — or remains a one-off personal triumph — will be the real measure of its legacy.
NationPress
15 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Catalina Channel double crossing achieved by the SwimLife Orcas?
The SwimLife Orcas, a six-member Masters swimming team from Bengaluru, completed a two-way relay crossing of the Catalina Channel — a roughly 32-kilometre stretch of open ocean off Southern California — on 10–11 September 2026, in 29 hours and 24 minutes. The feat is reportedly the 12th successful double crossing since 1991 and the first by an Asian team, subject to final ratification.
Who are the six swimmers in the SwimLife Orcas team?
The team comprises Meghana Mayya, Varuna Mayya, Sindhu Naropanth, Nikhil Mysore Manjunath, Siddhartha Agarwal, and team captain Sumanth Naropanth — all accomplished professionals from India's technology and business sectors. They were coached by Satish Kumar Mohan, Founder of SwimLife Academy and Vice President of the Swimming Federation of India.
Why is the Catalina Channel double crossing considered so difficult?
The Catalina Channel spans approximately 32 kilometres between Santa Catalina Island and the Southern California mainland, with currents, winds, and ocean swells increasing the effective distance significantly. The SwimLife Orcas completed much of their return crossing during a new-moon night in near-total darkness, navigating cold waters and changing sea conditions over 29-plus hours.
What is the historical significance of this achievement?
Only 11 other groups had completed a double crossing of the Catalina Channel since 1991 — a span of 35 years. The SwimLife Orcas are, according to their expedition report, the first Asian team to accomplish this, making it a landmark moment for Indian and Asian open-water swimming.
Who met the team in Los Angeles and what was said?
Consul General of India in Los Angeles, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, met the team after their crossing and congratulated them on their endurance, discipline, and teamwork. He described the achievement as a matter of pride for India and the Indian community in the United States, and expressed hope that it would inspire more young Indians and professionals to pursue swimming and adventure sports.
