Kubkowski Breaks Record Swimming Across Baltic Sea

Bartłomiej 'Foka' Kubkowski made history by swimming across the Baltic Sea, completing his fifth attempt and achieving a record-breaking distance of 160 km in 55 hours. This feat helped raise nearly 850,000 zlotys (€197,421) for the Cancer Fighters Foundation's fight against cancer.

Kubkowski had previously attempted to break this record four times, coming closest in 2025 when he swam 159 km, just 11 km short of his goal. His training regimen included brutal sessions that lasted up to a day and a half, with all-nighters, nighttime swimming, and dozens of kilometers covered in the pool.

During the final stretch, Kubkowski began experiencing hallucinations, but he quickly informed his support team, who intervened by providing him with additional meals. He also lost his bearings at one point, asking crew members where he was swimming. The team used a bottle of Coca-Cola as motivation, throwing it into the sea and allowing Kubkowski to drink from it when he found it.

After completing the swim, Kubkowski was taken to a local hospital for a full medical examination. He described himself as 'so tired that he doesn't know yet'.