Guinness World Record holder Josef Köberl (50, Austria, IISA bio here) is renowned in the ice. The Austrian cold-water swimming expert, International Ice Swimming Hall of Fame inductee, and iconic ice swimming athlete and coach knows the cold and ice.

The colder, the better as far as Köberl is concerned.

But in his pursuit of the Oceans Seven, he needs to face much warmer waters, especially across the Molokai Channel in Hawaii and across the Tsugaru Channel in northern Japan in September. Today, he finished a crossing of Tsugaru in 10 hours 25 minutes. “That was tough, it was soooo warm,” he said afterwards.

Köberl’s Oceans Seven Journey (6 Done, 1 To Go)

• In September 2026, he completed a 10 hour 25 minute crossing of the 19.5 km Tsugaru Channel from Kodomari on Aomori to Hokkaido in northern Japan at the age of 50.
• In August 2026, he completed a 15 hour 20 minute 32.3 km crossing of the Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula at the age of 50.
• In August 2025, he completed a 35 km crossing of the North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland in 14 hours 5 minutes
• In April 2025, he completed a 23 km crossing of the Cook Strait between North Island and South Island in New Zealand in 8 hours 43 minutes
• In September 2023, he completed a 14.4 km crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Morocco in 5 hours 0 minutes
• In. August 2015, he completed a 33.5 km crossing of the English Channel from England to France in 14 hours 21 minutes
• Molokai Channel up next

Köberl’s Ice Mile Career Highlights

• March 2014 in Grundlsee, Austria in 4.00°C water, 1.60°C air, he swam 1.16 miles in 39 minutes 12 seconds
• February 2016 in Emmersdorf an der Donau, Austria in 4.90°C water, -3.60°C air, he swam 1.00 mile in 33 minutes 41 seconds
• February 2019 in Wöhrsee, Burghausen, Germany in 4.60°C water, 4.70°C air, he swam 1.00 mile in 32 minutes 4 seconds
• February 2020 in Altenwörth, Austria in 4.77°C water, 4.80°C air, he swam 1.00 mile in 29 minutes 57 seconds
• February 2020 in Altenwörth, Austria in 4.77°C water, 4.80°C air, he swam 1.00 mile in 32 minutes 0 seconds
• January 2024 in Altenwörth, Austria in 1.17°C water, -1.60°C air, he swam 1.00 mile in 33 minutes 28 seconds
• April 27th 2024 in Zauchensee, Austria in 4.33°C water at 1616m altitude
• April 28th 2024 he swam 2424m in 4.33°C water at 1616m altitude for a new Austrian distance record

© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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