Dr. Otto Thaning has long admitted, “My swimming interest has always been a passion shared with my involvement in heart surgery. I was fortunate to have been trained by Chris Barnard and work in a hospital in Cape Town that carries his name – Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital.”

Dr. Christiaan Neethling Barnard was a South African cardiac surgeon who performed the world’s first successful human-to-human heart transplant.

For decades, Dr. Thaning has balanced his work as a cardiothoracic surgeon at Blain Communications in Cape Town with his love of marathon swimming.

Between 1990 and 2021, Dr. Thaning has completed 14 different Robben Island crossings. He has remained remarkably consistent. He swam his first Robben Island crossing in 1990 at the age of 49 and his most recent crossing in 2021 at the age of 80. His 49-year-old time was 2 hours 38 minutes; his 80-year-old time was 2 hours 52 minutes.

1. 7.4 km on May 6th 1990 in 2 hours 38 minutes
2. 10.2 km on May 24th 1990 in 4 hours 25 minutes
3. 9.9 km circumnavigation on October 2nd 1991 in 4 hours 10 minutes
4. 7.4 km on September 8th 1992 in 2 hours 45 minutes
5. 10.2 km to Three Anchor Bay on February 17th 1996 in 3 hours 54 minutes
6. 7.4 km on November 30th 2003 in 2 hours 13 minutes
7. 7.4 km on April 24th 2004 in 2 hours 18 minutes
8. 7.4 km on December 22nd 2007 in 2 hours 37 minutes
9. 7.4 km on March 17th 2013 in 2 hours 19 minutes
10. 7.4 km on May 11th 2013 in 2 hours 40 minutes
11. 7.4 km on January 25th 2014 in 2 hours 30 minutes
12. 7.4 km on August 9th 2014 in 2 hours 37 minutes
13. 7.4 km on August 17th 2014 in 2 hours 40 minutes
14. 7.4 km on April 4th 2021 in 2 hours 52 minutes

In addition, he also made the following crossings:

• 23.5 km on January 5th 1992 across Lake Malawi in Mozambique in 10 hours 5 minutes (28°C water)
• 9 km on October 24th 1992 along Cape Peninsula in South Africa in 3 hours 48 minutes
• 33.5 km on August 30th 1994 across the English Channel in 10 hours 29 minutes
• 10 km on March 5th 1994 along the False Bay in South Africa in 3 hours 41 minutes
• 14.4 km on September 24th 2004 across the Strait of Gibraltar in 4 hours 0 minutes
• 8 km on April 12th 2014 around Cape Point in South Africa in 2 hours 24 minutes
• 33.5 km on September 6th 2014 across the English Channel in 12 hours 52 minutes

Training and traveling between his responsibilities and heart patients in South Africa, he realized his dream of crossing the English Channel in 1994, in a fast non-GPS time of 10 hours 29 minutes at the age of 53. But it was not an easy journey.

Dr. Thaning initially attempted a crossing of the English Channel in 1992, but he was thwarted by adverse weather in the last 5 kilometers after 12 hours in the water. He then returned to make another attempt in 1993, but he did not get to swim due to high winds. It was only on his third attempt in 15-16°C water at the age of 54 did he realize his dream. He later received the O’Clee Jubilee Cup for his effort from the Channel Swimming Association.

His 2014 English Channel crossing set the standard for the oldest person in history to successfully cross between England and France – a year after his attempt at 72 was thwarted. What is quite remarkable other than his age was that his time of 12 hours 52 minutes – at the age of 73 – was far faster than the average time of 13 hours 33 minutes.

His achievement at the age of 73 is remarkable and, I feel, has to be considered one of the major feats in marathon swimming history. This is especially true when you consider the following:

• Dr. Thaning is a practicing heart surgeon. He still practices to this day. This is a high-pressure, incredibly intense profession with a tremendous amount of responsibility.
• When he was a university student, he swam for his South African province. He was fast, but he was a 50m sprinting specialist. But with that talent that he developed in his youth, he still enjoys a very beautiful, calm, and relaxed swim stroke to this day.
• Dr. Thaning only started to begin marathon swimming in his 50’s (where his first major swim as a swim across Lake Malawi).
• He is a determined swimmer, especially when you consider his English Channel successes were all preceded by disappointments and a DNF.
• Science tells us that human’s ability to withstand the cold diminishes in our old age so his feats in his 70’s and 80 are incredible.

Lewis Pugh said, “I was the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association official on his Robben Island swim at the age of 80. The calmness, the beautiful stroke and the determination, were a joy to watch. It was one of the highlights of my life to witness it. Otto is an outstanding ambassador for our sport- and also for aging. He shows that with regular exercise and determination, we can achieve extraordinary things in our latter years.”

For his English Channel achievement in 2014, I nominated Dr. Thaning for the World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year and wrote, “On a daily basis, heart surgeon Dr. Otto Thaning has insights on the effects of poor cardiovascular health on adults. He deeply understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle and also maintains a fine balance between family, work and recreation. He is the living epitome of how best to live a marvelously worthwhile life, both on terra firma and in the world’s oceans.

After a long career of open water swimming successes and helping others in need, Dr. Thaning culminated his career in the English Channel by becoming the oldest person to traverse from England to France – a year after canceling an earlier attempt. At the age of 73, he made a trail-blazing 12 hour 52 minute crossing, far faster than the average swimmer several decades his junior. For his judgment of his own capabilities, for never giving up his dream at crossing the English Channel in his 60’s, for his inspirational lifestyle that demonstrates vitality and vigor with compassion and care for millions of Baby Boomers and retirees around the world, Dr. Otto Thaning is a worthy nominee.”

The photo above shows Lewis Pugh, 80-year-old Dr. Thaning, Martin Goodman, and Roger Finch after their 7.4 km crossing of Robben Island in 2021 in 2 hours 52 minutes

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