# Polish charitable long-distance swims

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/polish-charitable-long-distance-swims
> Updated: 2026-08-04T09:22:16.000Z. Sources: 52. Developments: 3.

In July 2026 Polish endurance swimmer Jacek Pałubicki began a nonstop 942 km swim down the Vistula River, aiming to reach the Baltic Sea mouth on 9 August while raising funds for the Fundacja Mały Książę and the #NiePijZaMnie campaign.

Later that month ultra‑marathon swimmer Bartłomiej Kubkowski completed the first unaided crossing of the Baltic Sea. Starting on 31 July from Kåsebergi (near Ystad) in Sweden, the 31‑year‑old swam nonstop for about 55–56 hours, covering roughly 160–170 km before reaching Dziwnów, Poland, on 2 August. It was his fifth attempt; he remained in the water without touching the escort boat, endured 16 °C temperatures, strong currents, sleep deprivation, hallucinations and a brief loss of consciousness, and was examined by medical staff on arrival.

Kubkowski dedicated the swim to the Cancer Fighters Foundation, raising about 1.8 million zł in one account and nearly 850 000 zł in another—roughly 2.6 million zł for children with cancer. The achievement drew large crowds at the Polish finish line and received coverage in German, Swedish and Polish media, underscoring both the athletic milestone and its charitable impact.

Both events illustrate a surge in high‑profile Polish long‑distance swimming initiatives linked to charitable fundraising.

## Claims

- Bartłomiej Kubkowski swam from Sweden to Poland across the Baltic Sea. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- The swim covered approximately 160–170 km. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- The crossing took about 55–56 hours. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- Kubkowski became the first person to swim the Baltic Sea solo without touching a support boat. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- The swim was dedicated to the Cancer Fighters foundation, raising roughly 600‑670 k zł for children with cancer. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- During the swim Kubkowski suffered sleep deprivation, hallucinations and brief loss of consciousness. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- It was Kubkowski's fifth attempt; earlier attempts in 2022‑2025 fell short. (corroborated by 15 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-04: Polish Swimmer Bartłomiej Kubkowski Completes Baltic Sea Crossing

Polish swimmer Bartłomiej Kubkowski completed a 160 km, 55‑hour Baltic Sea swim from Sweden to Dziwnów, raising over 1.8 million PLN for cancer charity amid extreme fatigue and hallucinations.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/polish-swimmer-bartomiej-kubkowski-completes-baltic-sea-crossing

### 2026-08-02: Bartlomiej Kubkowski Becomes First to Swim Across Baltic Sea

Bartłomiej Kubkowski swam 160‑170 km across the Baltic Sea in 55‑56 hours, becoming the first to finish unaided and raising funds for Cancer Fighters.

44 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/polish-windsurfer-maciej-rutkowski-sets-guinness-baltic-sea-crossing-record

### 2026-07-20: Prosecutor Jacek Pałubicki Begins Record-Breaking Vistula River Swim for Charity

Prosecutor Jacek Pałubicki began a 942‑km nonstop Vistula River swim on 18 July 2026, aiming to finish at the Baltic Sea on 9 August, raising funds for families with children affected by FAS/FASD.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/prosecutor-jacek-paubicki-begins-record-breaking-vistula-river-swim-for-charity

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Cite as: Polish charitable long-distance swims. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/polish-charitable-long-distance-swims