Karen Ennis (53, UK, MSF bio here, @karenee007) took nearly a decade to achieve the Oceans Seven, but she got it done with a tough crossing of the Tsugaru Channel in northern Japan.
The process was difficult, but the end was joyous and filled with smiles and deep appreciation for all those who have supported her and her goals.
Ennis raised money and awareness for the Alder Hey Children’s Charity throughout her journey. She explains her goal, “To be the first British woman to swim the Oceans Seven whilst raising £100,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. All donations made will help them in their innovative approach to medicine and wellbeing. What they do for children and their families continues to inspire my efforts daily.“
To donate, visit here.
The Oceans Seven Journey of Karen Ennis
- English Channel in 16 hours 45 minutes in August 2017
- Catalina Channel in 15 hours 20 minutes in July 2019
- Strait of Gibraltar in 5 hours 57 minutes in April 2023
- North Channel in 13 hours 1 minute in August 2023
- Molokai Channel in 21 hours 0 minutes in October 2023
- Cook Strait in 8 hours 33 minutes in March 2025
- Tsugaru Channel success on June 18th 2026
Gráinne Moss née Gunn (55, Ireland, MSF bio here) and Paul Leonard (54, UK, MSF bio here) also completed their Oceans Seven journeys within a few hours of Moss.
Steven Munatones commented, “What is absolutely incredible is how three different people from around the world ended up completing their Oceans Seven on the same exact day within hours of one another. When I first conceived of the Oceans Seven, I did not know if it were even possible. And even if it were possible, it would take many, many years before the first person achieved the Oceans Seven. But 18 years after it was first announced, we already have 46 people from all walks of life and all ages who have become Oceans Seven swimmers – and there are several more people who will do the Oceans Seven in July and August this year. Wow. Just incredible how the global open water swimming community can set – and achieve – goals previously thought impossible.”
Oceans Seven Swimmers
1st: Stephen Redmond (Ireland)
2nd: Anna-Carin Nordin (Sweden)
3rd: Michelle Macy (USA)
4th: Darren Miller (USA)
5th: Adam Walker (UK)
6th: Kimberley Chambers (New Zealand)
7th: Antonio Argüelles (Mexico)
8th: Ion Lazarenco Tiron (Moldavia/Ireland)
9th: Rohan Dattatrey More (India)
10th: Abhejali Bernardová (Czech Republic)
11th: Cameron Bellamy (South Africa)
12th: Lynton Mortensen (Australia)
13th: Thomas Pembroke (Australia)
14th: Nora Toledano Cadena (Mexico)
15th: Mariel Hawley Davila (Mexico)
16th: André Wiersig (Germany)
17th: Elizabeth Fry (USA)
18th: Attila Mányoki (Hungary)
19th: Jonathan Ratcliffe (UK)
20th: Jorge Crivilles Villanueva (Spain)]
21st: Adrian Sarchet (Guernsey)
22nd: Prabhat Koli (India)
23rd: Dina Levačić (Croatia)
24th: Herman van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
25th: Andy Donaldson (Scotland)
26th: Stephen Junk (Australia)
27th: Kieron Palframan (South Africa)
28th: Bárbara Hernández Huerta (Chile)
29th: Mark Sowerby (Australia)
30th: Paul Georgescu (Romania)
31st: Zach Margolis (USA)
32nd: Petar Stoychev (Bulgaria)
33rd: Nathalia Pohl (Germany)
34th: Caitlin O’Reilly (New Zealand at the age of 20 years 7 months 15 days)
35th: Ryan Utsumi (USA)
36th: Marcia Cleveland (USA)
37th: Eduardo Collazos Valle-Guayo (Peru)
38th: Rob Woodhouse (Australia)
39th: Alessandra Rossi Cima (Brazil)
40th: Bengisu Avci (Turkey)
41st: Simon Olliver (New Zealand)
42nd: Andreas Waschburger (Germany)
43rd: Joanne Norman (Australia)
44th: Paul Leonard (Great Britain)
45th: Gráinne Moss (Ireland)
46th: Karen Ennis (Great Britain)
© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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