HAIKOU, South China, June 2(Xinhuanet)-- A 7-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy successfully swam across the Qiongzhou Strait between Guangdong Province and Hainan Island on Thursday, becoming the youngest swimmers ever to cross the strait.

A 10-year-old Beijing girl had swum across the strait in 2003.

The Chinese kids started from Haian of Xuwen County in Guangdong Province at 7:20 am(local time) today and swam for more than eight hours to cover the 27.1 kilometers. They reached Meilisha Peninsula of Haikou in Hainan Province at 3:40 pm and 3:44 pm respectively.

The boy Hu Congtao, born in May 7, 1996 and his cousin Guo Siyu, born in June 22, 1997, are both primary school pupils in thecity of Shenzhen.

Hu learned to swim at six and Guo started to swim a year ago. Both of them have undergone professional training for just a year.

They were excited after they reached the destination and were awarded the Guinness World Record certificates. I swam today just for breaking the record, Guo said.

The condition of the weather and the current were satisfying today, said Liu Zhiwei, the coach of Hu and Guo. There was a drizzle, but it did not matter, added Liu.

However, the opinions on the act are divided. Some say the willpower of the kids are touching and encouraging while others think it inappropriate for children to show off.

Sports experts and educators do not encourage children to do the same thing. Children are not suggested to take heavy exercisesfor too long. That will do harm to their health and their growth and development, said one sport expert from Hainan Senior Sports School. Enditem