Meet the Malaysian marathon swimmer who pioneered four channel swim routes

Ridzwan feeling on top of the world during his first swim from Perhentian to the Terengganu mainland in March 2021. Photos: Ariff Budiman Abdul Halim & Muhamad Aqil Azfar Khalili

Despite the gruelling situations of a marathon swim – over 10km in open water, uncertain weather conditions, and unaided by any flotation devices – the biggest challenge is mostly mental.

“It’s all in the mind,” says Ridzwan Rahim, the first Malaysian marathon swimmer and the only one so far to swim across the four channels connecting the Terengganu mainland and the three islands of Perhentian, Lang Tengah and Redang.