By Swimming World open water correspondent and Openwaterswimming.com founder Steven Munatones
DUBLIN, Ireland, August 30. DARREN Miller not only completed the Oceans Seven Thursday in a remarkably smooth and straight crossing of the notorious North Channel between Ireland and Scotland, but he did it in an unprecedented manner.
Miller crossed the North Channel in 11 hours 16 minutes, going 7-for-7 in his Oceans Seven crossings.
Seven attempts led to seven successes: the English Channel in 12 hours 4 minutes, the Catalina Channel in 9 hours 15 minutes, the Molokai Channel in 12 hours 12 minutes, the Strait of Gibraltar in 3 hours 44 minutes, the Tsugaru Channel in 15 hours 55 minutes, the Cook Strait in 10 hours 42 minutes, and achieved the North Channel in 11 hours 16 minutes on Thursday.
The first American man, the second man overall, and the fourth human in history to complete the seven Oceans Seven channels, Miller swam a cumulative total of 75 hours 8 minutes or an average of 10 hours 44 minutes per channel.
But to achieve those goals, he put in the quiet mileage necessary. There were a whole lotta hours and miles – thousands cumulatively – training and traveling to achieve the goal.
What now? Celebrate, continue to raise money for the Forever Fund, and inspire more people – on land and in the water – to understand how they too can reach their potential.
The current top athletes in the Oceans Seven challenge include the following individuals from all over the world.
Completed Oceans Seven
Stephen Redmond (Ireland): Completed English Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Catalina Channel, Cook Strait, Molokai Channel, Tsugaru Channel, North Channel.
Anna-Carin Nordin (Sweden): Completed Molokai Channel, English Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Catalina Channel, Tsugaru Channel, Cook Strait, North Channel.
Michelle Macy (USA): Completed English Channel (3 times), Catalina Channel, Molokai Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Cook Strait, Tsugaru Channel, North Channel.
Darren Miller (USA): Completed English Channel, Catalina Channel, Molokai Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Tsugaru Channel, Cook Strait, North Channel.
One swim remaining
Penny Palfrey (Australia): English Channel (2 times), Strait of Gibraltar, Catalina Channel, Cook Strait, Molokai Channel, Tsugaru Channel.
Two swims remaining
Forrest Nelson (USA): English Channel, Catalina Channel (both ways and two-way), Molokai Channel (both ways), Tsugaru Channel and Cook Strait.
Craig Lenning (USA): North Channel, English Channel, Catalina Channel, Tsugaru Channel, Cook Strait.
Adam Walker (UK): English Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Molokai Channel, Catalina Channel, Tsugaru Channel.
Three swims remaining
James Pittar (Australia): English Channel, Catalina Channel, Cook Strait and Strait of Gibraltar.
Kevin Murphy (England): English Channel (34 times), Catalina Channel, North Channel (2 times) and Strait of Gibraltar.
Bula Chowdhury Chakraborty (India): English Channel (twice), Catalina Channel, Cook Strait and Strait of Gibraltar.
Tom Hecker (USA): English Channel, Catalina Channel, Cook Strait and Strait of Gibraltar.
Pieter Christian Jongeneel Anderica (Spain): English Channel, Catalina Channel, Cook Strait and Strait of Gibraltar.
T. Scott Coleman (USA): English Channel, Catalina Channel, Cook Strait and Strait of Gibraltar.
Kathleen Wilson (USA): English Channel, Catalina Channel, Molokai Channel, Strait of Gibraltar.
Pat Gallant-Charette (USA): English Channel, Catalina Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Tsugaru Channel: 4 with 3 more to go.
Lynne Cox (USA): English Channel (2 times), Catalina Channel (2 times), Cook Strait, Strait of Gibraltar.
Kimberly Chambers (New Zealand): Cook Strait, Molokai Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Catalina Channel.