Fitness icon Milind Soman has once again demonstrated his passion for endurance sports by successfully completing a cross-continental swim across the Strait of Gibraltar.
The 60-year-old recently returned to India after completing the challenging swim from Tarifa in Spain to the coast of Morocco in Africa on May 1.
According to Mid-Day, Soman completed the feat alongside three other Indian swimmers — Shreyas Hosur, an IAS officer based in Bengaluru; Deepika Rana, a helicopter pilot; and Tanvi Deore from Nashik, who works in the hospitality industry.
Speaking about the achievement, Soman said, “I swam with three other Indians, Shreyas Hosur, an IAS officer based in Bengaluru; Deepika Rana, a helicopter pilot; and Tanvi Deore from Nashik, working in the hospitality sector, and we covered the distance in 4.5 hours."
Mid-Day reported that the actor and model, who resides near Shivaji Park in Mumbai, had long dreamed of swimming across the Strait of Gibraltar. Soman, a former national-level swimmer who represented India in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events, explained that completing the swim required years of planning and official permissions.
“I have been a national-level swimmer for India, representing the country in the 100m/200m breaststroke events. I wanted to swim the Strait of Gibraltar for many years.
There are permissions to get, and a long wait time. Finally, Srikanth Vishwanathan, another very good long-distance swimmer, helped us get the green light,” Soman shared.
The swim itself was physically demanding, with water temperatures hovering around 15 degrees Celsius. According to Mid-Day, the group had to strictly follow international open-water swimming protocols during the expedition.
Soman explained, “We had one guide boat for feeding, hydration, and all of us had to be swimming at the same pace. One cannot touch the boat; if you do, you are disqualified.”
Reflecting on the experience, the fitness enthusiast also added a humorous twist to his accomplishment. “Let me do some Strait [pun intended] talking. This was so much fun, I want to do this again. When it comes to fitness, consistency is key. There is no other Gibraltar-native,” he concluded.
Known for his extraordinary endurance challenges, Milind Soman has consistently promoted fitness and healthy living over the years.
Mid-Day noted that in June 2025, he launched the fifth edition of The Fit Indian Run, previously known as the Unity Run, from Shivaji Park in Dadar.
During that initiative, Soman covered an impressive 558 kilometres through running and cycling from Mumbai to Goa, using the journey to promote fitness, resilience, and national unity.
At 60, Milind Soman continues to inspire fitness enthusiasts across generations, proving that age is no barrier when it comes to endurance, discipline, and determination.
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