André Wiersig Becomes First German To Complete Oceans Seven
Courtesy of André Wiersig, Strait of Gibraltar, Spain-Morocco. Video and photos courtesy of Dennis Daletzki.
Oceans Seven has been achieved by 16 individuals in history:
• Stephen Redmond of Ireland
• Anna Carin Nordin of Sweden
• Michelle Macy of the U.S.A.
• Darren Miller of the U.S.A.
• Adam Walker of the UK
• Kimberley Chambers of New Zealand
• Antonio Argüelles of Mexico
• Ion Lazarenco Tiron of Moldavia and Ireland
• Rohan Dattatrey More of India
• Abhejali Bernardová of the Czech Republic
• Cameron Bellamy of South Africa
• Lynton Mortensen of Australia
• Thomas Pembroke of Australia
• Nora Toledano Cadena of Mexico
• Mariel Hawley Davila of Mexico
• André Wiersig of Germany
André Wiersig was the first German swimmer to achieve the Oceans Seven with his June 9th crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar in 4 hours 17 minutes
He recalls the final 14.4 km crossing between Spain and Morocco, “There were no presents from the ocean on Sunday, but there was strong currents in the second half of the crossing. But I was super happy to touch the continent of Africa and to complete the Oceans Seven. All crossings were solo with my brother-in-law Jürgen Peters as my [constant] support.
The love for the open ocean, the privilege to swim offshore as a guest in this beautiful marine environment with all its beauty that was – and is still – my motivation. The Oceans Seven took me 6 years to finish. I had, or rather was allowed, to swim through every channel successfully in my first attempt, all solo.
I always swim with the ocean – never against it. If I am asked today why I do that and voluntarily absorb these strains, then I can only answer: I have an unconditional love for the ocean and that is how love should be – without conditions.
More than ever, I feel connected to the ocean and I can say to myself: I am a man who can speak for the ocean and I have a lot to tell you all out there, because it can not and should not go on like that.
I would now like to use the recognition and attention to sensitize more people for the protection of our seas and to stimulate the behavior of each change. We need more consciousness and it is high time to rethink: not just to take, but to give.”
Wiersig’s Oceans Seven Journey:
- In September 2014, he crossed the 33.8 km English Channel in 9 hours 44 minutes from England to France
- In October 2015, he crossed the 42 km Molokai Channel in 18 hours 26 minutes from Molokai to Oahu
- In August 2016, he crossed the 35 km North Channel in 12 hours 16 minutes from Northern Ireland to Scotland
- In July 2016, he crossed the 32.3 km Catalina Channel in 9 hours 48 minutes from Catalina Island to the California mainland
- In July 2018, he crossed the 19.5 km Tsugaru Channel in 12 hours 55 minutes from Honshu to Hokkaido in Japan
- In May 2018, he crossed the 23 km Cook Strait in 8 hours 2 minutes from North Island to South Island in New Zealand
- In June 2019, he crossed the 14.4 km Strait of Gibraltar in 4 hours 17 minutes from Spain to Morocco
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