Not only did Rob Lea (43, USA, MSF bio here, @rob.lea) complete the Ultimate World Triathlon, he has also completed crossings of the 32.3 km Catalina Channel in 2021 in 11 hours 14 minutes, the 23 km Cook Strait in New Zealand in 2024 in 8 hours 7 minutes and the 35 km North Channel in 10 hours 36 minutes both in 2024.

A former high school and college sprinter and former professional triathlete, Lea upped his endurance game when he dreamed of the Ultimate World Triathlon in 2019 – and ultimately became the first and only person to complete a Calendar Year Peak and Pond, a solo completion of a crossing of the English Channel and a summit of Mount Everest, along the way. He completed the climb and crawl 45 days apart – with black toe nails in the Channel – to achieve the Peak and Pond Challenge.

Then, the Park City, Utah-based athlete set about to cycle across the continental United States, which he did in 39 days, all within one year.

And he continues, onwards across the Molokai Channel, aiming to complete his fifth Oceans Seven channel.

This morning, he started swimming from Kepuhi Beach (Kaluakoi) on Molokai Island to Oahu under nice light trade wind conditions, with his wife and photographer Caroline Gleich (@carolinegleich) on board with Michael Twigg-Smith (@captmike808). Gleich reports, “He’s been stung for a few jellyfish, one to the face, but his spirits are high. He is smooth and confident on the open ocean.”

His tracker is here.

Photos by wife Caroline Gleich and Michael Twigg-Smith.

UPDATE: Lea started at 4:24 am and finished at 7:00 pm for a 14 hour 36 minute crossing.

© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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

World Open Water Swimming Federation, a human-powered project.