Petar Stoychev, A True Superstar In The Open Water

International Swimming Hall of Fame induction video of Petar Stoychev courtesy of Swimming World Magazine and the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Without a doubt, Petar Stoychev is one of the greatest and most versatile athletes to ever grace the open bodies of water around the world. He won several dozens of international competitions, from 2°C at the 1 km ice swimming world championships in Germany to over 32°C in the 25 km FINA world championship race in Shanghai, China. He has prepared himself so well that he became a world champion in water that is nearly frozen to water that is literally too hot to be safe.

Steven Munatones recalls his career, “Petar won international competitions and world championships from lakes in Quebec, Canada to oceans off South Africa. He may not have won every race he entered – and he swam in hundreds of competitions, but he was always a threat to medal. He always took the best line and there was no one better at using the elements to their advantage.

Additionally, the Bulgarian is personable and multi-lingual – and is always engaging.

He talks with his competitors, before and after each race, trying to get into their heads for the next competition. He discusses issues with race directors for next year’s race, and everyone from pilots to officials who had a role in possibly making the race better.

If there is no one – in my opinion – who deserves to be recognized as an Honor Open Water Swimmer by the International Swimming Hall of Fame.”

Stoychev has done everything in the sport: 4-time Olympic pool swimmer (400m + 1500m freestyle), Olympic 10K Marathon Swim finalist (6th in 2008 + 9th in 2012), coach, administrator with FINA and the Bulgaria federal government (as Minister of Sport), 2008 Olympic flag bearer, FINA Athletic Representative, FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee member, ice swimming world record holder, ice swimming world champion, 25 km world champion, multi-time FINA World Championship medalist, 11-time winner of the Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean, 11-time winner of the Traversee internationale du lac Memphremagog, English Channel record holder and 2-time finisher (7 hours 21 minutes in 2006 and 6 hours 57 minutes in 2007), 11-time FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix winner, 2009 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year, 60+ wins on the professional marathon swimming circuit, and swims from Manhattan Island to Asia and South Africa. And he is planning to head off to Antarctica to do another ice swim.

Stoychev joins the following dual honorees in the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame:

* Gertrude Ederle in 1965 (USA)
* Captain Matthew Webb in 1965 (Great Britain)
* Johnny Weissmuller in 1965 (USA)
* Greta Andersen in 1969 (Denmark)
* Cavill Family in 1970 (Australia)
* Florence Chadwick in 1970 (USA)
* Annette Kellerman in 1974 (Australia)
* Keo Nakama in 1975 (USA)
* James ‘Doc’ Counsilman in 1976 (USA)
* John Kinsella in 1986 (USA)
* William Forest ‘Buck’ Dawson in 1986 (USA)
* Gerald Forsberg in 1988 (Great Britain)
* Penny Dean in 1996 (USA)
* Abdul Latif Abou Heif in 1998 (Egypt)
* Lynne Cox in 2000 (USA)
* Horacio Iglesias in 2003 (Argentina)
* Cynthia Nicholas in 2005 (Canada)
* Alison Streeter MBE in 2006 (Great Britain)
* Shelley Taylor-Smith in 2008 (Australia)
* Herman Willemse in 2008 (Netherlands)
* Kevin Murphy in 2009 (Great Britain)
* Paul Asmuth in 2010 (USA)
* Michael Read MBE in 2011 (Great Britain)
* Chad Hundeby in 2012 (USA)
* Sandra Bucha in 2014 (USA)
* Cliff Lumsdon in 2013 (Canada)
* Jon Erikson in 2014 (USA)
* Mercedes Gleitze in 2014 (Great Britain)
* Judith van Berkel-de Nijs in 2014 (Netherlands)
* George Young in 2014 (Canada)
* David Yudovin in 2014 (USA)
* Claudio Plit in 2014 (Argentina)
* Dale Petranech in 2014 (USA)
* Irene van der Laan in 2015 (Netherlands)
* Donald Watson in 2015 (USA)
* Larisa Ilchenko in 2016 (Russia)
* Desmond Renford in 2016 (Australia)
* Monique Wildschut in 2016 (Netherlands)
* Maarten van der Weijden in 2017 (Netherlands)
* Petar Stoychev in 2018 (Bulgaria)

In addition to being a dual inductee (Honour Swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Class of 2008 and Honor Open Water Swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Class of 2018), Stoychev has accomplished the following in the open water swimming world.

* On 31 July 1999, he competed in the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean finishing in 8 hours 1 minute 54 seconds at the age of 22.
* On 7 August 1999, he competed in the 37 km Atlantic City Around The Island Swim in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 7 hours 28 minutes 29 seconds at the age of 22.
* In 1999, he competed in the Swim Across The Sound in Connecticut in 2 hours 2 minutes 46 seconds.
* On 15 July 2000, he competed in the 37 km Atlantic City Around The Island Swim in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 8 hours 21 minutes 35 seconds at the age of 23.
* On 29 July 2000, he competed in the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Canada finishing in 6 hours 25 minutes 23 seconds at the age of 23.
* He competed in the 400m freestyle and 1500m freestyle pool events at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
* On 29 October 2000, he competed in the 10 km race at the FINA Open Water Swimming World Championships on Oahu, Hawaii finishing in 1 hour 57 minutes 14 seconds at the age of 24.
* In 2000, he competed in the 25 km Swim Across The Sound in Connecticut finishing in 4 hours 46 minutes 4 seconds.
* On 16 July 2001, he competed in the 10 km race at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan finishing in 2 hours 1 minutes 22 seconds at the age of 24.
* On 28 July 2001, he competed in the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Canada finishing in 7 hours 3 minutes 45 seconds at the age of 24.
* In 2001, he competed in the 25 km Swim Across The Sound in Connecticut finishing in 4 hours 55 minutes 47 seconds.
* On 27 July 2002, he competed in the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Canada finishing in 7 hours 32 minutes 9 seconds at the age of 25.
* In 2002, he competed in the 25 km Swim Across The Sound in Connecticut finishing in 4 hours 58 minutes 45 seconds.
* On 15 July 2003, he won the bronze medal in the 25 km race at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain finishing in 5 hours 2 minutes at the age of 26.
* On 13 July 2003, he competed in the 10 km race at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Barcelona, Spain finishing in 1 hour 51 minutes 12 seconds at the age of 26.
* On 26 July 2003, he competed in the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Canada finishing in 7 hours 43 minutes 15 seconds at the age of 26.
* On 9 August 2003, he competed in the 37 km Atlantic City Around The Island Swim in Atlantic City, New Jersey finishing in 7 hours 37 minutes 24 seconds.
* On 24 August 2003, he competed in the Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy, finishing in 6 hours 47 minutes 13 seconds at the age of 26.
* On 10 July 2004, he competed in the 36 km Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy finishing in 7 hours 6 minutes 11 seconds at the age of 27.
* On 24 July 2004, he competed in the 37 km Atlantic City Around The Island Swim in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 6 hours 44 minutes 3 seconds at the age of 27.
* On 31 July 2004, he competed in the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada finishing in 6 hours 23 minutes 14 seconds at the age of 27.
* In 2004, he competed in the 400m freestyle and 1500m freestyle pool events at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
* On 26 November 2004, he competed in the FINA Open Water Swimming World Championships in Dubai, UAE finishing in 1 hour 56 minutes 6 seconds at the age of 28.
* On 2 July 2005, he competed in the 36 km Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy in 7 hours 17 minutes 12 seconds at the age of 28.
* On 19 July 2005, he won the bronze medal in the FINA World Swimming Championships 25 km race in Montreal, Canada finishing in 5 hours 28 seconds at the age of 28.
* On 17 July 2005, he won the bronze medal in the FINA World Swimming Championships 10 km race finishing in 1 hour 46 minutes 50 seconds at the age of 28.
* On 30 July 2005, he won the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada in 6 hours 48 minutes 21 seconds at the age of 28.
* On 13 August 2005, he competed in the 37 km Atlantic City Around The Island Swim in Atlantic City, New Jersey finishing in 7 hours 24 minutes 12 seconds at the age of 28.
* On 29 July 2006, he won the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada finishing in 6 hours 39 minutes 9 seconds at the age of 29.
* On 22 August 2006, he completed a crossing of the English Channel in 7 hours 21 minutes 8 seconds at the age of 29.
* On 29 August 2006, he competed in the FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships 10 km race in Napoli, Italy finishing in 2 hours 12 minutes 9 seconds at the age of 29.
* On 21 August 2006, he competed in the FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships 25 km race in Napoli, Italy finishing in 5 hours 49 minutes at the age of 29.
* On 21 January 2007, he completed the 88 km Maratón Internacional Hernandarias – Parana in Argentina finishing in 9 hours 9 minutes 33 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 26 January 2007, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Santos, Brazil finishing in 2 hours 17 minutes 14 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 4 February 2007, he competed in the 57 km Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe – Coronda in Argentina finishing in 7 hours 29 minutes 40 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 17 March 2007, he competed in the FINA World Swimming Championships 10 km race in Melbourne, Australia finishing in 1 hour 56 minutes 2 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 19 March 2007, he competed in the FINA World Swimming Championships 25 km race finishing in 5 hours 22 minutes 55 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 7 April 2007, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Arjman finishing in 2 hours 15 minutes 7 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 9 June 2007, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Sevilla, Spain in 1 hour 56 minutes 41 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 17 June 2007, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in London finishing in 1 hour 55 minutes 56 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 15 July 2007, he competed in the International Jarak-Šabac Marathon Swim in Serbia finishing in 2 hours 44 minutes 27 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 21 July 2007, he competed in the 30 km Ohrid Lake Swimming Marathon in Macedonia finishing in 5 hours 52 minutes at the age of 30.
* On 26 July 2007, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup finishing in 2 hours 2 minutes 21 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 28 July 2007, he won the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean finishing in 6 hours 36 minutes 29 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 4 August 2007, he won the 34 km Traversee internationale du lac Memphremagog finishing in 7 hours 44 minutes 30 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 24 August 2007, he set the record in crossing in English Channel in 6 hours 57 minutes 50 seconds, beating the record of Christof Wandratsch in 7:03:52, escorted by Michael Oram with Derek Carter as crew and Jennie Hanson and Alison Streeter as observers.
* On 23 September 2007, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Shantou, China finishing in 1 hour 44 minutes 43 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 30 September 2007, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Hong Kong finishing in 1 hour 44 minutes 34 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 13 October 2007, he competed in the 15 km Copa Del Mundo FINA Maraton De Natacion finishing in 3 hours 16 minutes 27 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 20 October 2007, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Cancun, Mexico finishing in 2 hours 18 seconds at the age of 30.
* On 3 February 2008, he competed in the 57 Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe – Coronda in Argentina finishing in 8 hours 20 minutes 9 seconds at the age of 31.
* On 9 February 2008, he competed in the 15 km Maratón Acuática Internacional Ciudad de Rosario in Argentina finishing in 2 hours 9 minutes 27 seconds at the age of 31.
* On 16 February 2008, he competed in the 15 km Maraton Patagones-Viedma International Open Water Swim in Argentina finishing in 2 hours 42 minutes 19 seconds at the age of 31.
* On 3 May 2008, he competed in the FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships in Seville, Spain finishing in 1 hour 54 minutes 35 seconds qualifying for the inaugural Olympic 10K Marathon Swim at the age of 31.
* On 5 May 2008, he competed in the FINA Open Water Swimming World Championships in Seville, Spain finishing in 5 hours 4 minutes 8 seconds at the age of 31.
* On 15 July 2008, he competed in the 19 km International Jarak-Šabac Marathon Swim in Serbia finishing in 2 hours 42 minutes 17 seconds at the age of 31.
* On 21 July 2008, he competed in the 30 km Ohrid Lake Swimming Marathon finishing in 6 hours 14 minutes 51 seconds at the age of 31.
* On 24 July 2008, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in lac St-Jean, Quebec, Canada finishing in 2 hours 4 minutes 16 seconds at the age of 31.
* On 26 July 2008, he won the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada finishing in 7 hours 39 minutes 13 seconds at the age of 31.
* On 2 August 2008, he won the 34 km Traversée Internationale du lac Memphrémagog in Quebec, Canada finishing in 7 hours 27 minutes 25 seconds at the age of 31.
* On 8 August 2008, he competed in the 400m freestyle and later in the 1500m freestyle pool events at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
* On 21 August 2008, he finished sixth in the inaugural Olympic 10K Marathon Swim in Beijing, China at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games finishing in 1 hour 52 minutes 9 seconds at the age of 31.
* On 24 January 2009, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Santos, Brazil finishing in 2 hours 8 minutes 5 seconds at the age of 32.
* On 1 February 2009, he competed in the 57 km Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe – Coronda in Argentina finishing in 8 hours 53 minutes 7 seconds at the age of 32.
* On 7 February 2009, he competed in the 15 km Maratón Acuática Internacional Ciudad de Rosario in Argentina finishing in 2 hours 13 minutes 59 seconds at the age of 32.
* On 14 February 2009, he competed in the 15 km Maraton Patagones-Viedma International Open Water Swim in Argentina finishing in 2 hours 47 minutes 45 seconds at the age of 32.
* On 18 April 2009, he competed in the 15 km Copa Del Mundo FINA Maraton De Natacion in Mexico finishing in 3 hours 9 minutes 49 seconds at the age of 32.
* On 27 June 2009, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Setubal Bay, Portugal finishing in 1 hour 35 minutes 33 seconds at the age of 32.
* On 17 July 2009, he competed in the FINA World Swimming Championships in Rome, Italy finishing in 1 hour 54 minutes 50 seconds at the age of 32.
* On 18 July 2009, he competed in the 30 km Ohrid Lake Swimming Marathon in Macedonia finishing in 5 hours 25 minutes 38 seconds at the age of 32.
* On 25 July 2009, he won the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean finishing in 6 hours 58 minutes 39 seconds at the age of 32.
* On 4 October 2009, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Repulse Bay, Hong Kong finishing in 1 hour 59 minutes 45 seconds at the age of 32.
* On 25 October 2009, he competed in the 15 km Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the UAE finishing in 2 hours 38 minutes 56 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 1 January 2010, he was voted as the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association.
* On 24 January 2010, he competed in the Maratón Acuática Internacional Ciudad de Rosario in Argentina finishing in 1 hour 59 minutes 45 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 31 January 2010, he competed in the 57 km Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe – Coronda in Argentina finishing in 6 hours 57 minutes 52 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 6 February 2010, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Viedma, Argentina finishing in 1 hour 51 minutes 2 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 17 April 2010, he competed in the 15 km Copa Del Mundo FINA Maraton De Natacion in Mexico finishing in 3 hours 19 minutes 52 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 26 June 2010, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Setubal Bay, Portugal finishing in 2 hours 1 minute 6 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 21 July 2010, he won the bronze medal in the FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships 25 km race in lac St-Jean, Quebec, Canada finishing in 5 hours 33 minutes 50 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 17 July 2010, he competed in the FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships 10 km race in lac St-Jean, Quebec, Canada finishing in 2 hours 1 minutes 13 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 31 July 2010, he won the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada finishing in 6 hours 40 minutes 22 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 7 August 2010, he won the 34 km Traversée Internationale du lac Memphrémagog in Quebec, Canada finishing in 7 hours 38 minutes 2 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 10 September 2010, he attempted a record 45.8 km circumnavigation swim against Mark Warkentin around Manhattan Island in New York finishing in 6 hours 28 minutes 23 seconds at the age of 33. *On 25 September 2010, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Shantou, China finishing in 2 hours 5 minutes 19 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 23 October 2010, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Fujairah, UAE finishing in 2 hours 35 seconds at the age of 33.
* On 27 October 2010, he competed in the 30 km Ohrid Lake Swimming Marathon in Macedonia finishing in 5 hours 37 minutes 39 seconds at the age of 34.
* On 23 January 2011, he competed in the Maratón Acuática Internacional Ciudad de Rosario in Argentina finishing in 2 hours 3 minutes 1 second at the age of 34.
* On 30 January 2011, he competed in the 57 km Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe – Coronda in Argentina finishing in 8 hours 14 minutes 41 seconds at the age of 34.
* On 5 February 2011, he competed in the 12 Las Patagones-Viedma in Viedma, Argentina finishing in 2 hours 35 minutes 3 seconds at the age of 34.
* On 17 April 2011, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Santos, Brazil finishing in 2 hours 6 minutes 28 seconds at the age of 34.
* On 30 April 2011, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Cancun, Mexico finishing in 1 hour 54 minutes 21 seconds at the age of 34.
* On 18 June 2011, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Setubal Bay, Portugal finishing in 1 hour 40 minutes 31 seconds at the age of 34.
* On 16 July 2011, he competed in the FINA World Swimming Championships 10 km race in Shanghai, China finishing in 1 hour 55 minutes 39 seconds at the age of 34.
* On 21 July 2011, he won the FINA World Swimming Championships 25 km race in Shanghai, China finishing in 5 hours 10 minutes 39 seconds at the age of 34.
* On 30 July 2011, he won the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada finishing in 6 hours 36 minutes 30 seconds at the age of 34.
* On 6 August 2011, he won the 34 km Traversée Internationale du lac Memphrémagog in Quebec, Canada finishing in 7 hours 25 minutes 5 seconds at the age of 34.
* On 14 August 2011, he competed in the 30 km Ohrid Lake Swimming Marathon in Macedonia finishing in 5 hours 35 minutes 13 seconds at the age of 35.
* On 31 October 2011, he was nominated for the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association.
* On 1 April 2012, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Eilat, Israel finishing in 1 hour 52 minutes 45 seconds at the age of 35.
* On 24 April 2012, he competed in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Cancun, Mexico in 1 hour 57 minutes 31 seconds at the age of 35.
* On 26 April 2012, he competed in the 15 km FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix in Cancun, Mexico finishing in 3 hours 9 seconds at the age of 35.
* On 10 August 2012, he finished 9th in the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim in the Serpentine in London in 1 hour 50 minutes 46 seconds at the age of 35, his fourth straight Summer Olympic Games participation.
* On 11 August 2012, he competed in the 30 km Ohrid Lake Swimming Marathon in Macedonia in 5 hours 19 minutes 30 seconds at the age of 35.
* In 2012, he won the 19 km BCT Gdynia Marathon in Poland.
* In 2016, he won the Pirita Open in the 450m winter swimming freestyle event in 5:24.98 in 1ºC water and -2ºC air temperatures.
* In 2016, he won the 450m freestyle event at the Winter World Swimming Championships in Tyumen, Russia.
* On 10 January 2016, he was ranked #1 in the ice kilometer at the age of 39 for his 12 minute 28 second effort in 3.90°C air and 0.00°C freshwater in a lake at the Aqua Sphere Ice Swimming German Open Burghausen.
* On 6 January 2017, he won and set the world record for the 1000m ice kilometer at the 2017 Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere World Championships in Burghausen, Germany in 12:15.87.
* On 31 October 2017, he was nominated for the 2017 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association.
* In January 2018, he finished second in the 1 km race at the 2018 Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere German Open in Veitsbronn, Germany in 12:38.73 in 3.8°C water and 6°C air.
* He is formerly the Minister of Sport in the government of his native Bulgaria.
* He participated in the inaugural International Ice Swimming Championships and at the 10th annual Russian Open Winter Swimming Championship in Murmansk, Russia.
* He has a local beer named after him (La Stoychev) crafted by Microbrasserie du Lac Saint-Jean in St-Gédéon, Québec, Canada as a tribute to his 11 victories in the 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean [shown above].
* He was the overall winner of the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix circuit for an unprecedented 11 straight years.
* He won the famed 32 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada an unprecedented 11 times.
* He won the famed 34 km Traversée Internationale du lac Memphrémagog in Quebec, Canada an unprecedented 11 times.
* He served as a member of the FINA Athletes Commission.
* He served as a member of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee.
* He was selected as the flag bearer for the Bulgarian Olympic team at the 2008 Beijing Games, where he swam both in the open water event (Olympic 10K Marathon Swim) and the 1500m freestyle in the pool. He finished 6th in the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim.
* He set the 450m freestyle International Winter Swimming Association world record at the 2016 Winter Swimming World Championships in Tyumen, Russia in 5:25.39.
* He set the overall and 40-44 age group world record in the ice kilometer with a 12:15:87 swum on 6 January 2017 in 3.4°C water and -11.10°C air in a lake in Burghausen, Germany.

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