Navy doc to swim over 100km in three iconic waterways to raise $1.5m for community hospital

His 192km swim in the frigid waters of New York's Hudson River in 2023 did not freeze out his determination to stage a second fundraising effort for St Luke's Hospital in 2025, with a target of $1.5 million.

- Judith Tan

In fact, navy doctor Chua Jia Long, 34, will be taking the plunge in September into not one but three iconic waterways.

Known as the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, the grueling challenge comprises the crossing of the 32.3km Catalina Channel between Santa Catalina Island and the Southern California mainland in the US; the 20 Bridges Swim around Manhattan Island, which is about 48.5km; and the crossing of the 33.5km English Channel between England and France.

With a total distance of 114.3km, the Triple Crown is shorter than his Hudson River swim.

However, it is considered more prestigious as it is an internationally recognised challenge consisting of three iconic and demanding swims.

"I have always wanted to do these channels and I think it is the wish of all open water swimmers to do so during their lifetime," the medical officer in the Republic of Singapore Navy told The Sunday Times.

"Actually, the order of doing things is a bit wrong. The Hudson (swim) is technically harder, but I felt very strongly about doing it (then)."

Dr Chua conquered the Hudson River in about 44 hours over seven days despite battling muscle cramps.