On February 21, 56-year-old Dongguan native Chen Suwei (陈苏伟) successfully swam across the challenging Cook Strait in New Zealand, completing the remarkable feat in an impressive 9 hours, 47 minutes, and 22 seconds.

It's worth mentioning that the Cook Strait is globally recognized as one of the seven most challenging straits. Chen Suwei, with astonishing determination, overcame numerous obstacles, showcasing Dongguan's spirit of facing challenges head-on and surpassing personal boundaries. This achievement highlights Dongguan as the "Hometown of Swimming in China."

Chen embarked on the challenge at around 2:00 (Beijing time) on February 21. After a challenging 9 hours, 47 minutes, and 22 seconds, he successfully crossed the strait, covering a distance of approximately 31.83 kilometers.
"This challenge was more difficult than expected, with strong winds and high waves throughout, coupled with relatively high water temperatures, demanding exceptional physical endurance," said Chen. He also encountered marine life such as jellyfish during the challenging process.

The Cook Strait, alongside the English Channel, the North Channel, the Strait of Gibraltar, the Catalina Channel, the Molokai Channel, and the Tsugaru Strait, is considered one of the seven most challenging straits globally. 

Situated between the North and South Islands of New Zealand, it is named after the renowned explorer James Cook. It spans approximately 205 kilometers north to south and 23 to 144 kilometers east to west, with depths ranging from 71 to 457 meters and an average depth of 128 meters.

Chen's accomplishment in crossing the Cook Strait adds to his already impressive record of conquering six out of the world's seven most challenging straits. Public records show that only about 20 individuals worldwide have successfully achieved this feat, with none hailing from Asia.

Looking ahead, Chen Suwei expressed his determination to continue the quest, setting his sights on the challenging Strait of Gibraltar for his next endeavor.