staging

The World's 7 Most Challenging Open Water Swims

Several years ago, open water swimming advocate Steven Munatones felt the sport needed a shot in the arm to increase its visibility and allure, especially as open water swimming gained a spot in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Inspired by mountaineering's seven summits, Munatones decided to compile a similar list for open water swimming—the Oceans Seven, a list of seven channel swims around the world that represent some of the most daunting challenges on the planet. The list is an incredible collection of swims for hardcore endurance athletes. Each of the swims exceed 10K in length, and all come with their own set of challenges that make each attempt both dangerous and rewarding.

The complete list has been completed by just four swimmers, though Adam Walker is just two swims away from becoming the fifth. Here is a look at each one:

Discuss This Article

Get ACTIVE on the Go

Meet Mobile
Meet Mobile

Meet Mobile

Swim smarter: heats, lane assignments and real-time results in the palm of your hand.

Available for iOS | Android

Connect With Us