Sports
By Jin Yingying
On July 29, a father from Yuhang district, along with his son and daughter, swam across the Qiongzhou Strait in a relay, taking about 8 hours and 4 minutes.
Spanning a straight-line distance of approximately 20 kilometers, the Qiongzhou Strait is one of China’s three major straits, situated between Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula. This formidable distance, often dubbed the “Everest of the Sea”, posed a significant challenge to the family.
The journey began at 5:08 a.m. that day, when the navigator signaled the start of the crossing. The relay order was predetermined: first, the father, Tong Guoping, followed by his son, Tong Yunyuan, and lastly, his daughter, Tong Yunni.
As the relay commenced in the early morning darkness, the beach was shrouded in blackness, making it difficult to discern directions. The only guide was a small light from the navigator’s boat, yet even with this, they veered off course multiple times.
However, after approximately 8 hours and 4 minutes of battling the waves, the family successfully reached the other side of the Qiongzhou Strait.
Tong Guoping, now 51, developed a passion for swimming in 2015 when he had cervical spine issues and the doctor recommended he take up sports. That initial dive has led to nearly a decade of swimming.
Inspired by their father, Tong Yunni took up swimming in the fifth grade, and her brother, Tong Yunyuan, started as early as first grade. Together, the trio has participated in the Qiantang River Crossing five times.
“Since we started swimming, I’ve noticed significant improvements in our health,” said the father, noting that his son’s asthma has greatly improved.