Leung makes dream a reality with epic swim

Rachael Ng

Ryan Leung Chun-hay has become the first Hongkonger to swim across the North Channel strait between northeastern Northern Ireland and southwestern Scotland.

The 35-year-old swimmer finished the 40-kilometer challenge in 14 hours and five minutes.

His record was certified by the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association, with the swim aimed at raising funds for the Child Development Initiative Alliance that supports youth development for underprivileged families in Hong Kong.

The North Channel is the hardest among the Oceans Seven Challenge, a marathon of seven open-water channel swims that includes the Cook Strait and the English Channel.

Upon completing the challenge, Leung said the "hardest time" during the marathon swim was in the fourth hour, as the water temperature was 11 degrees Celsius. He kept telling himself to persevere.

After overcoming the cold temperature, another hurdle was the change of water flow when approaching the sprint. With the encouragement of his team, he swam upstream and "spent more than three hours to accomplish the last seven kilometers."

"I hope to encourage young people not to give up, to maximize their potential and to inspire them to explore their aspirations and turn impossible dreams into possibilities," Leung said on his fundraising page simplygiving.com.

Leung thanked all his supporters, including his parents who encouraged him despite worries about his safety, and his team.

He currently works as a senior officer at Wheelock Properties' sales team, focusing on luxury projects.

His boss, Wheelock Properties managing director Ricky Wong Kwong-yiu, sponsored Leung for HK$10,000. Wong was so proud of Leung for accomplishing an "amazing challenge."

Besides the low water temperatures, swimmers are faced with unpredictable weather, a 35-km stretch that takes over 10 hours of swimming, and giant marine creatures such as the two-meter venomous Cyanea capillata jellyfish.

rachael.ng@singtaonewscorp.com