Rupali Repale

Rupali Repale was born in Mumbai, the daughter of Ramdas Repale and Rekha Repale, who were small-scale business owners from a modest financial background. Born in rural Pune, both the parents moved to Mumbai city in 1970s shortly before their marriage and settled in Bhandup, a suburb of Mumbai. Rupali completed her schooling and went on to graduate with a degree in sociology from Mumbai University.[10]
Rupali started swimming at an early age and soon developed a penchant for it. She showed remarkable stamina even at an early age and could swim for hours at a stretch. Noticed by her coaches and later backed by her father, she soon started training for long-distance events and later in the open waters. Apart from swimming, she also participates in Triathlon events and has achieved many accolades in it as well.[11]

• 1994: English Channel, England to France, 34 kilometers in 16 hours and 7 minutes. Youngest Swimmer for the year 1994.[12]
• 1994: Gibraltar Strait, Spain to Morocco, 28 kilometers in 5 hours and 5 minutes.[13]
• 1995: Mumbai to Dharamtar two-way Gateway of India swim, 72 kilometers in 21 hours and 30 minutes.[14]
• 1995: Sri Lanka to India, 40 kilometers in 11 hours and 5 minutes.
• 1996: Bass Strait, Phillip Bay to Melbourne, 65 kilometers in 17 hours, required swimming within the confines of a cage due to the shark-infested nature of the strait.
• 1998: Cook Strait, Pegano Head to Waipiro Bay (New Zealand), 80 kilometers in 19 hours 44 minutes, record for the longest successful swim in first attempt[15]
• 2000: Three Anchor Bay to Robben Island (South Africa) two-way. 30 kilometers in 7 hrs.[16]

• National Youth Award awarded by then President of India late Hon. Shankar Dayal Sharma, Bhopal 1995.
• National Adventure Award awarded by then Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (India) Hon. Uma Bharti, New Delhi 1999.[17]
• HIMA Foundation Award awarded by then Governor of Maharashtra late Hon. Dr. P C Alexander, Mumbai 1995.
• Sagar Kanya title conferred upon by the Government of Maharashtra.[18]
• Dolphin Queen title conferred upon by the Government of New Zealand.

Rupali is the founder and director of Rupali Industries,[19] a water purification based home appliance company. In her spare time she likes to coach young talent at local swimming pools.

• Biographical book Jal Akramile (Marathi) written by Sumedh Vadavala and published by Rajhans Prakashans.[20]
• Excerpt from Rupali's book is included in the Maharashtra state school curriculum to encourage youth involvement in sports.[21]

• Official Site