Jesus Samuel Neri Gutiérrez (62, Mexico, MSF bio here, @triton_mexicano) and Hank WIse (58, USA, MSF bio here, @dolphin_boy) have quite the rivalry. For years, they have been going back and forth as the reigning King of the Catalina Channel.

Neri, an attorney from Mexico City, is now – as of September 12th – the King of the Catalina Channel with his latest crossing in 17 hours 46 minutes.

Neri, 10. Wise, 9.

Yesterday, Neri put a bit of a twist on his swim, crossing from the California mainland on Palos Verdes Peninsula to Santa Catalina Island.

The Catalina Channel Swimming Federation reported, “In the aftermath of Hurricane Marie, Catalina delivered a challenging day. Sam began under cloudy skies with light rain and relatively mild conditions, but that quickly changed. Skies cleared as winds built to 18 knots, bringing heavy waves up to three feet that persisted for much of the crossing. Head currents added to the challenge and slowed his progress toward the island.

Sam’s experience and determination showed as he continued punching through the waves hour after hour. After nearly 18 hours in the water, he reached Catalina Island and completed a record setting 10th crossing.

He swam aboard the Pacific Star, supported by Rodrigo Lestrade, Miguel Campero, and Martin Plettner as support swimmers and kayakers, with Sergio Sharpe and Jorge Asali providing additional support aboard the boat. Diana Corbin and Elaine Van Vleck served as Catalina Channel Swimming Federation Official Observers.“

The book on this friendly rivalry is not yet closed. Neri is 62; Wise is 58.

Both men have invested decades in coming to this point: Neri 10 versus Wise 9. And, I suspect, there will be additional crossings in their future. But as they gracefully and gradually age, they may feel the pressure of Father Time. Every crossing now feels like they are getting closer to their final lifetime tally.

But it ain’t over until it is over.

Neri completed a tough mainland-to-Catalina crossing yesterday, the longest of his career that began when he was 46 years old. Wise just completed a crossing done entirely during the daytime. They are both finding different ways to enjoy their separate – but inevitably linked – crossings.

Catalina Crossings of Samuel Neri, King of the Catalina Channel

1. September 2011, age 46: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 13 hours 44 minutes
2. July 2013, age 48: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 12 hours 16 minutes
3. October 2014, age 49: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Southern California mainland to Catalina Island in 17 hours 32 minutes
4. October 2015, age 50: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 11 hours 55 minutes
5. October 2016, age 51: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 11 hours 50 minutes
6. June 2017, age 52: 32.3 km crossing of the Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 14 hours 40 minutes
7. November 2019, age 55: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 13 hours 7 minutes
8. June 2023, age 59: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 15 hours 17 minutes.
9. November 2025, age 61: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 15 hours 27 minutes
10. September 2026, age 62: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 17 hours 46 minutes
11. To be continued…

Catalina Crossings of Hank Wise, Former King of the Catalina Channel

1. October 2010, age 42: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 8:07:03
2. June 2015, age 47: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Santa Catalina Island in 8:07:37
3. October 2015, age 47: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to Palos Verdes Peninsula in 10:56:44 at the age of 47.
4. November 2016, age 48: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to Palos Verdes Peninsula in 8:20:10 at the age of 48.
5. October 2017, age 49: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to Palos Verdes Peninsula in 10:14:00 at the age of 49.
6. November 2017, age 49: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to Palos Verdes Peninsula in 10:01:52 at the age of 49.
7. October 2018, age 50: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 7:55:06
8. September 2025, age 57: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Palos Verdes Peninsula to Catalina Island on Arrow Point in 8:07.53
9. August 2026, age 58: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Palos Verdes Peninsula to Catalina Island on Arrow Point in 9:38:35
10. To be continued…

© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“

World Open Water Swimming Federation, an exclusively human-powered project.