Swimming 20 Bridges Around Manhattan for Peace | Vasanti Becomes Oldest Woman to Complete the Swim

On Sept. 12, 2025, Peace Run team member Vasanti Niemz (68) from Germany accomplished the iconic "20 Bridges" open water marathon swim around Manhattan Island, dedicating it to PEACE in honour of the United Nations 80th anniversary, the 55th year of Sri Chinmoy Peace Meditations at the United Nations and the International Day of Peace coming up on Sept. 21st. She is the oldest female ever to complete this swim, with a time of 9 hours and 34 minutes, current-assisted. The Peace Torch of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness Home Peace Run was lit at the start and at the end and carried on the boat by her local boat crew Pipasa and Jamini. The swim is organised by New York Open Water (NYOW), who provide the accompanying safety boat and kayak including pilot, observer and kayaker. It was Vasanti's longtime dream to swim around Manhattan, but for a slower swimmer it became only possible recently, with separate starts now in smaller groups of similar speed and the start time adjusted accordingly to the tidal currents, so the swim would be mostly current-assisted. It was very special for her to swim in honour of the UN anniversary and at the same time celebrate a personal 40th anniversary of her first English Channel swim of Sept. 9, 1985. The Manhattan swim is part of the Triple Crown of Open Water, and she is planning to attempt the 3rd swim - Catalina Channel - in August 2026, for another age record. Read more: https://www.peacerun.org/us/news/2025... #20bridgesswim #marathonswim #openwaterswim