Open Water Source

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World Open Water Swimming Records

The list below is a short list of open water swimming records (under 10 kilometers) done
without wetsuits and according to traditional English Channel rules. With over 70% of the
Earth covered in water, the number of records and locations to swim are numerous and
potentially endless.

If you know of any additional records or new records that have been set, please email the
name of the world record holder, their country, date (month, day and year), location, distance
and official time to Open Water Source.

RECORDS IN EUROPE

Great North Swim (1 mile, Lake Windermere, England)

Fastest Male: Danil Serebrenikov (Russia), 2009, 16:23
Fastest Female: Nadine Pastor (Germany), 2009, 18:14

Great East Swim (1 mile, England)

Fastest Male: Tom Allen (Great Britain), 2009, 16:24
Fastest Female: Britta Kamrau (Germany), 2009, 18:08

Great Scotland Swim (1 mile, Scotland)

Fastest Male: Danil Serebrennikov (Russia), 2009, 18:03
Fastest Female: Britta Kamrau (Germany), 2009, 18:56

Great London Swim (1 mile, London, England)

Fastest Male: Thomas Lurz (Germany), 2009, 16:24
Fastest Female: Katy Whitfield (Great Britain), 2009, 17:39

Round Sark Solo (5 miles)

Fastest Circumnavigation: Alison Horsfall, Sally Minty-Gravett and Dario Parmesan, 1999,
4:25.8

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North Cape (5K, Norway)

First Swim: Lewis Pugh (Great Britain), August 2003, 1:04

Magdalenefjord (1K)
First Swim: Lewis Pugh (Great Britain), 21:30

Cape Clear South Harbour to Baltimore (7.5K, Ireland)

First Crossing: Ned Denison (USA/Ireland), 2005

Baltimore to Cape Clear South Harbour (7.5K, Ireland)

First Crossing: John Kearney (Ireland), 2005

Fastnet to Cape Clear (7.5K, Ireland)

First Crossing: Steven Black (Ireland), 2009

Oysterhaven to Sandycove (6.4K, Ireland)

First Crossing: Owen O’Keefe, Imelda Lynch and Lisa Cummins (Ireland), 2008

Rosie's Pub, Lower Aghada to Murph's Pub, East Ferry (6K, Ireland)
First Crossing: Fergus Galvin (Ireland), 2009

Glandore around Adam Island and Back (6K, Ireland)

First Circumnavigation: Lisa Cummins and Carl Richards (Ireland), 2009

Dublin Bay (Red Rock to DLao, 8.8K, Ireland)

Fastest Crossing: George Dunne (Ireland), 2004, 2:15

Hinds-Rann-Killykeen, Cavan (5.6K, Ireland)

Fastest Crossing: Colm O’Neill (Ireland), 1:45

Abound the Old Head (4.5K, Ireland)

First Crossing: Ned Denison (USA/Ireland), 2008

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Portmagee to Knightstown (7.5K, Ireland)

First Crossing: Robert Bohane, Nick Caine, Lisa Cummins, Fredrik Kumlin, Daniel Martin,
Carl Reynolds and Carl Richards (Ireland), 2009

Strait of Messina (3.2K single-crossing, 6.5 double-crossing in Sicily, Italy)

Fastest Male Freestyle Crossing: Giovanni Fiannacca (Italy), 1 October 1975, 30:50
Fastest Male Breaststroke Crossing: Diego Santoro (Italy), 2 August 2008, 36:09
Fastest Male Backstroke Crossing: Giovanni Arrabito (Italy), 3 August 1975, 51:08
Fastest Male Butterfly Crossing: Gianni Golini (Italy), 6 September 1977, 51:49
Fastest Female Freestyle Crossing: Maria Betania Torre (Italy), 4 August 2010, 36:07
Fastest Female Breaststroke Crossing: Asya Cautela (Italy), 14 August 2009, 40:11
Fastest Male Double-Crossing Freestyle: Nino Fazio (Italy), 2 September 2010, 1:22:23
Fastest Male Double-Crossing Backstroke: Ettore Mercuri (Italy), 25 August 1967, 1:57:46
Fastest Male Double-Crossing Butterfly: Gianni Golini (Italy), 18 October 1976, 2:23:56
Fastest Female Double-Crossing Freestyle: Elena Lionello (Italy), 28 July 2009, 1:23:41
Fastest Female Double-Crossing Breaststroke: Grazia De Gregorio (Italy), 25 August 1974,
3:29:02
Fastest Female Double-Crossing Butterfly: Francesca Manzari (Italy), 22 September 1992,
2:36:34

Coniston (5.25 miles in England)

First Butterfly Crossing: Dr. Julie Bradshaw (Great Britain), 1995, 3:07

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RECORDS IN THE AMERICAS

Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 miles, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.)

Fastest Male: Daniel McClellen (Australia), 1995, 42:13
Fastest Female: Lisa Hazen (USA), 1995, 45:33

RCP Tiburon (1.2 miles, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.)

Fastest Male: Vladimir Dyatchin (RUS) 2007, 18:20.00
Fastest Female: Chloe Sutton (USA) 2007, 19:04.70

Golden Gate Bridge Crossing (San Francisco, California, U.S.A.)

Fastest Crossing: Bob Roper (USA), 1969, 17:21

Willoughby Swim (4.75 miles, Lake Willoughy, Vermont, U.S.A.)

Fastest Crossing: Charlotte Bryne (USA), 21 August 2010, 2:09.50

Kingdom Swim (3 miles, Lake Memphremagog, Vermont, U.S.A.)

Fastest Swim: Tim Walsh (USA), 24 July 2010, 1:12:48

Beagle Channel (Argentina to Chile)

First One-Way Crossing: Lynne Cox (USA), 1990
First Two-Way Crossing: Rachel Golub (USA), Patricia Sener (USA), Cristian Vergara
(Chile/USA), 2010

Lake Titicaca (Bolivia to Peru)

First Crossing: Lynne Cox (USA), 1992

Strait of Magellan (Chile)

First Crossing: Lynne Cox, 1976, 1:02

Bering Strait (2.2 miles from Little Diomede, U.S.A. to Big Diomede, U.S.S.R.)
First Crossing: Lynne Cox (USA), 1987, 2:06

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One-Mile Cable Swim (Chris Green Lake, Virginia, U.S.A.)

Fastest Female: Abby Nunn (USA), 2009, 20:02.38
Fastest Male: J. Allen (USA), 2001, 20:39.99

Two-Mile Cable Swim (Chris Green Lake, Virginia, U.S.A.)

Fastest Female: Tobie Smith (USA), 2003, 39:51.99
Fastest Male: James Kegley (USA), 1988, 38:32.00

Horsetooth Open Water Swim (Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.A.)

Fastest 10K: Brooks Felton (USA), 2005, 2:09:31
Fastest Female 10K: Sarah Thomas (USA), 2009, 2:20:06
Fastest 2.4-mile: Patrick Dideum (USA), 2004, 49:34
Fastest 2.4-mile: Shauna Nelson (USA), 2007, 51:10

Cayman Brac Crossing (4.88 miles from West End, Cayman Brac to Point of Sand,
Little Cayman Island in the Cayman Islands)
Fastest Channel Crossing: Jeff Miller, 2 May 1987, 2:36
First Channel Crossing: Jeff Miller, 2 May 1987, 2:36
First Crossing by Caymanians: Felix Ebanks and Matthew McKinley, 18 April 2010, 3:30
Youngest Male: 19-year-old Felix Ebanks, 18 April 2010, 3:30
Youngest Female: 35-year-old Andrea Roach, 18 April 2010, 3:30
Oldest Male: 48-year-old Bill McFarland (USA), 18 April 2010, 3:20
Oldest Female: 52-year-old Kate Alexander (USA), 18 April 2010, 3:20

Flowers Sea Swim (1 mile, Grand Cayman Island, Cayman Islands)

Fastest Male: Alex Meyer (USA), 2010, 17:18
Fastest Female: Eva Fabian (USA), 2010, 17:47

The Money Box Cap 2k (Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)

Fastest Male: Rivers Will (USA), 2005, 24:07:00
Fastest Female: Natalie Sacco (USA), 2010, 26:00:00

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American Swimming Association Open Water Swimming Texas High School State
Championships (2K, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)
Fastest Male: Conner Nolan (USA), 2010, 25:13
Fastest Female: Claire Singley (USA), 2010, 25:51

American Swimming Association Open Water Swimming Collegiate National

Championships (5K, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.)
Fastest Male: Matt Attal, St. Leo University (USA), 2007, 59:38.0
Female Female: Brittany Massengale, Rice University (USA), 2007, 55:09.3

Snake River Challenge Open Water (1K, Lewiston, Idaho, U.S.A.)

Fastest Male: Ian Wheeler (USA), 3 July 2010, 11:10.69
Fastest Female: Courtney Schwiesow (USA), 3 July 2010, 12:03.93

CAST Classic Open Water (2.5K, Coeur’D’Alene, Idaho, U.S.A.)

Fastest Female: Sidney Orr (USA), 14 August 2010, 39:53.6
Fastest Male: Kyle Jones (USA), 14 August 2010, 38:19.87

CAST Classic Open Water (5K, Coeur’D’Alene, Idaho, U.S.A.)

Fastest Female: Natalie Edge (USA), 14 August 2010, 1:10:57.93
Fastest Male: Kalen Darling (USA), 14 August 2010, 1:04:21.04

CAST Classic Open Water (10K, Coeur’D’Alene, Idaho, U.S.A.)

Fastest Female: Susanne Simpson Edge (USA), 14 August 2010, 2:27:0.23
Fastest Male: John Van Velthuyzen (USA), 14 August 2010, 2:23:42.22

Race for the Conch Eco-SeaSwim (1 mile, Turks & Caicos)

Fastest Male: Marcos Diaz (Dominican Republic), 9 July 2010, 22:12.9
Fastest Female: Isla McLeod (Scotland), 9 July 2010, 28:42.5

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Seven Mile Beach – Northwest Point at West Bay Dock to The Wharf (5 miles, Grand
Cayman Island, Cayman Islands)
First Crossing: Victor Thompson (Cayman Islands), 15 July 1989

Golden Gate Medley Swim (4 miles, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.)

First Medley: Tom Keller, Michael Chase and Jon Ennis (USA), August 2010; 2:20 [one length
underneath the entire Golden Gate Bridge from end-to-end or about one mile of each stroke
done in traditional individual medley order]

Queen of the Sea (Reinha do Mar) (7K, Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Fastest Swim: Christine Jennings (USA), 11 December 2010, 1:17

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RECORDS IN OCEANIA

To be recorded

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RECORDS IN ASIA

Lake Imja, Mount Everest (1K, Nepal)

First Crossing: Lewis Pugh (Great Britain), 2010

Taiwan to China (7K from Kinmen to Xiamen)

Fastest Crossing: Ling Tienyu (Hong Kong) 8 August 2010, 1:34:0

Tianchi Lake (3.3K, China)

First Crossing: Zhang Jian (China), 28 August 2001

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RECORDS IN AFRICA

Midmar Mile (South Africa)

Fastest Male: Stanczyk (South Africa), 2004, 17:13.00
Fastest Female: Keri-Anne Payne (Great Britain), 2004, 17:40.00

Cape Point (South Africa)

Fastest Crossing from Round Cape Point to Diaz Beach to Buffels Bay: John Dickerson (South
Africa), 9 July 2006, 2:10
Female Female Crossing from Round Cape Point to Diaz Beach to Buffels Bay: Carina
Bruwer (South Africa), 27 March 2004, 2:20
Fastest Swim from Three Capes Maclear Beach to Buffels Bay: Christof Wandratsch
(Germany), 10 February 2005. 2:00
Fastest Female Swim from Three Capes Maclear Beach to Buffels Bay: Gill Stamrood (South
Africa), 15 April 2004, 3:15

Dassen Island (South Africa)

Fastest Crossing from Dassen Island to mainland Yzerfontein: Alan Jamieson (South Africa),
30 March 2008, 2:33
Fastest Crossing from Dassen Island to mainland Yzerfontein: Sarah Matthews and Gill
Stamrood (South Africa), 13 May 2004, 3:38

Robben Island (7.5K to Cape Town, South Africa)

Fastest Crossing from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand: Chrisof Wandratsch (Germany), 7
February 2005, 1:33:11
Fastest Female Crossing from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand: Natalie du Tout (South
Africa), 26 April 2009, 1:35:45
Youngest Crossing from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand: 12-year-old Sarah Kay (South
Africa), 27 November 2003
Oldest Male Crossing from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand: 65-year-old Peter Bales (South
Africa)
Oldest Female Crossing from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand: 64-year-old Barbara Pierce
(South Africa)
Youngest Swimmer from Three Anchor Bay to Robben Island to Bloubergstrand: 10-year-old
Aditya Raut (India), 21 June 2004, 6:42
King of Robben Island (most crossings from Robben Island to Cape Town): Theodore Yach

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(South Africa), 59

Round Cape Point – Diaz Beach to Buffels Bay (7.5K in South Africa)
Fastest Swim: John Dickerson (South Africa), 9 July 2006, 2:10
Fastest Female Swim: Carina Bruwer (South Africa), 27 March 2004, 2:20

Three Capes Swim – Maclear Beach to Buffels Bay (8.9K in South Africa)
Fastest Swim: Christof Wandratsch (Germany), 10 February 2005, 2:00
Fastest Female Swim: Gill Stamrood (South Africa), 15 April 2004, 3:15

Dassen Island to mainland Yzerfontein (8.5K in South Africa)

Fastest Crossing: Alan Jamieson (South Africa), 30 March 2008, 2:33
Fastest Female Crossing: Sarah Matthews and Gill Stamrood (South Africa), 13 May 2004,
3:38

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EXTREME ENDS OF THE EARTH RECORDS

Antarctica Records
First Swim: Lynne Cox (USA), 2002, Orlova (ship) to Neko Harbor, 0:25, 1.2 miles, non-
wetsuit swim following English Channel rules
Most Southern Swim: Ram Barkai (South Africa), 7 February 2008, 1K at 70° latitude near
Maitri in 1°C water with 0°C (32°F) air temperature

North Pole Records

First Swim: Lewis Pugh (Great Britain), July 2007, 18:50, 1K, non-wetsuit swim following
English Channel rules

Lake Imja, Mount Everest (1K, Nepal)

First Crossing: Lewis Pugh (Great Britain), 2010 at 5,300-meter (17,000+ feet) altitude, non-
wetsuit swim following English Channel rules

Lake Zürich, Switzerland

First Winter Swim in Lake Zürich, Switzerland: Ram Barkai (South Africa), February 2009,
2.2K in 4°C (39°F) water with 32°F (0°C) air temperature and a 19°F (-7°C) wind chill, non-
wetsuit swim following English Channel rules

Amazon River, Peru to Brazil (5,450K)

First Stage Swim: Martin Strel (Slovenia), 1 February to 7 April 2007, 5,268K in 66 days from
source to estuary
Fastest Stage Swim: Darko Novovic (Serbia), November 2010, 46 days from source to
estuary

Danube River through European Countries (3,004K)

First Stage Swim: Martin Strel (Slovenia), 25 June to 23 August 2000, 58 days

Danube River from Melk, Austria to Paks, Hungary (504.5K)

First Non-Stop River Swim: Ricardo Hoffman (Argentina), 481.5K, 84 hours and 37 minutes
Longest Non-stop River Swim: Martin Strel (Slovenia), 504.5K, July 2001, 84 hours and 10
minutes

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Mississippi River, USA (3,797K)

First Stage Swim: Martin Strel (Slovenia), 4 July to 9 September 2002, 68 days from source to
estuary

Paraná River, Argentina from Iguazzu Falls to Rio de La Plata, Buenos Aires (3,998K)
First Stage Swim: Martin Strel (Slovenia), 15 November to 8 December 2003, 24 days from
source to estuary

Yangtze River, China (4,003K)

First Stage Swim: Martin Strel (Slovenia), 10 June 2004 to 30 July 2004, 51 days from source
to Shanghai

Lignano to Ravenna, Italy (162.5K)

Longest Ocean Swim in Europe: Martin Strel (Slovenia), 1994, 55 hours and 11 minutes

Venice to Portorose, Italy (100K)

Fastest Swim: Martin Strel (Slovenia), 1996, 41 hours and 11 minutes

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