Some swimmers collect world records in their life-long quest to pursue their full potential.

Catherine Breed (32, USA, MSF bio here) has set 6 world and major course records in her emerging career. Pat Gallant-Charette (75, USA, MSF bio here) has 9 Guinness World Records and has set 12 world records over the course of her career. Petar Stoychev (49, Bulgaria, MSF bio here, IISA bio here) has set five world records in channel swims and ice swimming. Alisa Fatum (31, Germany, IISA bio here) holds 5 ice swimming world records. Ryan Stramrood (52, South Africa, IISA bio here) has set four Guinness World Records around the world.

And their exploits are expected to continue.

Andreas Waschburger (39, Germany, MSF bio here, IISA bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @andreaswaschburger) is steadily swimming along the same world record track with 8 world records set to date under his swim cap:

• Waschburger set the fastest Oceans Seven cumulative time record in 49 hours 37 minutes
• Waschburger set the fastest English Channel record in 6 hours 45 minutes
• Waschburger set the fastest North Channel record in 8 hours 11 minutes
• Waschburger set the fastest Molokai Channel crossing record in 9 hours 55 minutes
• Waschburger set the 500m freestyle ice swimming world record in 5:32.72
• Waschburger set the 1000m freestyle ice swimming world record in 11:24.20
• Waschburger set the 20 Bridges Manhattan Island Swim record in 5 hours 32 minutes
• Waschburger set the fastest Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming in 20 hours 15 minutes

As of today, Waschburger added two more world records with a single 45.9 km circumnavigation swim around Manhattan Island. He set a new 20 Bridges Manhattan Island Swim record in 5 hours 32 minutes. With the 45.9 km circumnavigation swim completed after a 1:00 am start, Waschburger has achieved the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming with the history’s fastest cumulative time record in 20 hours 15 minutes.

Record Progression around Manhattan Island

• Andreas Waschburger, Germany in 5 hours 32 minutes in June 2026
• David Olvera López, Mexico 5 hours 34 minutes in June 2025
• Andy Donaldson, Scotland in 5 hours 41 minutes in September 2024
• Oliver Wilkinson, Australia in 5 hours 44 minutes 2 seconds in September 2011
• Rondi Davies, Australia in 5 hours 44 minutes 47 seconds in September 2011
• Shelley Taylor-Smith, Australia (MSF bio here) in 5 hours, 45 minutes 25 seconds in July 1995

Fastest Cumulative Times to Achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming

1. Andreas Waschburger (39, Germany, MSF bio here, IISA bio here, World Aquatics bio here) 20 hours 15 minutes
2. Petar Stoychev (49, Bulgaria, MSF bio here, IISA bio here, World Aquatics bio here) 22 hours 8 minutes
3. Andy Donaldson (35, Scotland, MSF bio here) 23 hours 4 minutes
4. Marcia Cleveland (62, USA, MSF bio here, IISA bio here) 24 hours 38 minutes
5. Benjamin Freeman (28, Australia, MSF bio here) 24 hours 53 minutes
6. Jim Barber (66, USA, MSF bio here) 24 hours 56 minutes
7. Alison Streeter (61, Great Britain, MSF bio here) 25 hours 41 minutes
8. Penny Palfrey (63, Australia, MSF bio here) 25 hours 43 minutes
9. Elizabeth Fry (67, USA, MSF bio here) 25 hours 45 minutes
10. Oliver Wilkinson (51, Australia, MSF bio here) 26 hours 2 minutes

© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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