Despite having no arms, an Australian swimmer set a world record by swimming using only his legs.

She was born without arms. Consequently, she relies solely on her legs—rather than her arms—to swim. Yet, Australia’s Kerry-Lee Gockel never allowed this physical disability to stand in the way of her dreams. She has now set a world record by swimming using only her legs.

On August 21, 2025, Gockel swam around Great Keppel Island, located off the coast of Yeppoon in Queensland, Australia—an island locally known as ‘Woppa’. She covered a total distance of 20.4 kilometers. This stands as the longest swim to date within the AA3 disability classification recognized by Guinness World Records.

Swimmers in the AA3 category are permitted to use flotation aids if necessary and can receive safety support. During her swim, Gockel was accompanied by fellow swimmer Joep Buijs. In addition to providing safety support, he supplied her with food and water while she was in the water.

Lacking arms, Gockel swims on her back. She relies entirely on her legs to propel herself forward and maintain buoyancy. She was born without arms due to a congenital physical condition known as ‘amelia’.

Gockel currently works for the Queensland state government’s Department of Finance and Treasury. Her journey in the world of swimming began long ago.

In 2005, her swimming coach, James, suggested she try open-water swimming. Prior to that, Gockel had spent several years participating in competitive swimming at local pools. She completed her first one-kilometer open-water swim in June of that year, and her interest in open-water swimming gradually grew.

As time passed, the distances she swam increased. In 2022 and 2023, Gockel participated in two 10-kilometer swims. In 2024, she swam around Great Keppel Island with her husband, Paul; however, that was a different kind of challenge, as they took turns swimming one-kilometer stretches.

The 20.4-kilometer swim in 2025, however, was a test of an entirely different magnitude. He had prepared himself for this challenge by previously completing three 10-kilometer swims and a 15-kilometer training swim.

After completing this long swim, Gokel remarked that although the challenge was difficult, sound planning, rigorous training, and thorough preparation made the entire experience feel relatively manageable. His greatest strengths were self-belief and determination.