Sky is the Limit: Remarkable Effort

Girl, eight, swims 17km across Penang channel

PENANG: The strong sea currents failed to deter her but the jellyfish nearly did.
Still, eight-year-old Mardiana Abdul Rahim managed to overcome her fear of the stinging creatures to become the youngest person to swim from Seberang Prai to Penang island.

With her brother Muhammad Riyadh, 14, and sister Maisarah, 13, the siblings from Malacca completed their swim within five to seven hours.

Muhamad Riyadh also made it into the Malaysia Book of Records as the youngest male swimmer to swim long distance in the country.

After a light breakfast, the siblings started their swim at Kuala Muda near Kepala Batas at 8.15am.
Muhammad Riyadh covered 13.1km in five hours 25 minutes to arrive at Tanjong Tokong at 1.51pm while Maisarah took six hours and 31 minutes over the distance.
Mardiana took seven hours and 31minutes as she had to detour due to strong currents and covered 17.1km.
Asked if she would swim across the channel again, Mardiana replied: “Only if there is no jellyfish.”