Course Records
Major world solo marathon swimming course records (Fastest Known Times), generated from LongSwimsDB data.
Please note: This is a curated list of the world's most significant swim routes. Not every possible course record is listed. If multiple distinct routes have been swum in a body of water, only the most canonical routes are listed.
Navigation: British Isles, North America, Latin America, Australia & New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Continental Europe, Africa, Asia
UK and Ireland
English Channel
- One-way: England to France: Trent Grimsey - 33.2km in 06:55:00 on 2012-09-08
- France to England (directional): Richard Davey - 33.2km in 08:05:00 on 1988-09-08
- Two-way: England to France to England: Philip Rush - 99.6km in 16:10:00 on 1987-08-16
- Three-way: England to France to England to France: Philip Rush - 99.6km in 28:21:00 on 1987-08-16
- Four-way: England - France - England - France - England: Sarah Thomas - 132km in 54:10:00 on 2019-09-17
North Channel
- Ireland to Scotland: Jordan Leckey - 35km in 09:35:00 on 2013-07-15
- Scotland to Ireland (directional): Alison Streeter - 35km in 10:02:12 on 1997-08-18
Bristol Channel
- Glenthorne, England to Porthcawl, Wales: Jane Luscombe - 26.8km in 10:46:00 on 1976-08-19
- Porthcawl, Wales to England: Martyn Webster - 26.2km in 09:10:00 on 2022-09-19
Round Jersey
- Jersey circumnavigation: Ross Wisby - 66km in 09:26:00 on 2015-08-19
- Jersey double circumnavigation: Andy Truscott - 132km in 22:07:00 on 2018-07-15
Jersey to France
- Jersey to France: Robin Johnson - 22.5km in 05:46:00 on 2017-08-24
- Two-way: Jersey - France - Jersey: Andy Truscott - 45km in 16:39:00 on 2017-NA-NA
Dál Riata Channel
- Scotland to Ireland: Sabrina Wiedmer - 20.2km in 08:30:07 on 2016-06-29
Fastnet Rock
- Fastnet to Baltimore: Andrew Packer - 19.1km in 05:27:04 on 2022-05-27
Loch Lomond
- James Leitch - 34.8km in 09:14:47 on 2012-08-14
Loch Ness
- Rachel Godburn - 36.2km in 09:25:37 on 1995-08-20
- Two-way: Ft Augustus - Loch End - Ft Augustus: David Morgan - 72.4km in 23:04:00 on 1983-08-01
Around Isle of Wight
- Alison Streeter - 90km in 21:02:00 on 1984-NA-NA
North America
US / west
Catalina Channel & Catalina Island circumnavigation
- One-way: Mainland to Catalina Island: Penny Lee Dean - 32.3km in 07:15:55 on 1976-09-01
- Catalina Island to Mainland (directional): Grace van der Byl - 32.3km in 07:27:25 on 2012-10-05
- Two-way: Mainland to Catalina Island to Mainland: John York - 64.6km in 16:42:00 on 1978-09-21
- Catalina Island circumnavigation: Forrest Nelson - 74.7km in 25:35:08 on 2011-07-07
Santa Barbara Channel and California Channel Islands
Anacapa Island
- One-way: Anacapa Island to mainland: Jim McConica - 19.6km in 04:38:07 on 2012-10-02
- Mainland to Anacapa Island (directional): Jim McConica - 19.6km in 05:05:54 on 2018-09-20
- Anacapa circumnavigation: Peter Hayden - 17.7km in 05:41:15 on 2014-09-03
- Two-way: Mainland to Anacapa Island to Mainland: Cindy Cleveland - 39.2km in 12:48:20 on 1978-08-09
Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel Islands
- One-way: Santa Cruz Island to mainland (Ventura County): Jim McConica - 30.6km in 08:59:58 on 2013-09-20
- Mainland (Ventura County) to Santa Cruz Island (directional): Caroline Block - 30.6km in 14:56:42 on 2019-01-12
- Two-way: Mainland to Santa Cruz Island (via east Anacapa) to Mainland: Ken Mignosa - 66km in 29:22:22 on 2018-09-21
- Santa Rosa Island to mainland: Marc Lewis - 44.3km in 15:46:19 on 2008-07-12
- San Miguel Island to mainland: Penny Palfrey - 41.7km in 11:29:33 on 2008-09-26
Lake Tahoe
- One-way length: Camp Richardson to Incline Village: Michael Rice - 34.2km in 08:36:42 on 2021-08-10
- Incline Village to Camp Richardson: Joseph Locke - 34.2km in 10:50:00 on 2012-07-31
- Two-way length: Incline Village to Camp Richardson to Incline Village: Sarah Thomas - 68.4km in 22:30:00 on 2013-07-19
Around Coronado Island
- Glorietta Bay Beach to Gator Beach via Zuniga Jetty: Kevin Joyce - 18.6km in 03:42:47 on 1994-08-21
Gulf of the Farallones
- Farallon Islands to Marin coast: Stewart Evans - 32.9km in 13:44:52 on 1967-08-27
- Farallon Islands to Golden Gate Bridge: Joseph Locke - 47.8km in 13:58:28 on 2014-07-12
Around Mercer Island
- Mercer Island circumnavigation: Sarah Thomas - 20km in 05:58:00 on 2017-06-02
- Mercer Island double circumnavigation: Sarah Thomas - 40km in 12:22:20 on 2017-06-02
Monterey Bay
- Santa Cruz to Monterey: Catherine Breed - 40.3km in 12:42:14 on 2020-09-22
- Monterey to Santa Cruz (directional): Kimberly Rutherford - 40.3km in 22:06:00 on 2014-09-06
Round-Trip Angel Island
- Aquatic Park - Angel Island loop: Catherine Breed - 16.1km in 04:14:56 on 2022-08-05
- Aquatic Park - Angel Island loop (directional / CCW): Ryan Utsumi - 16.1km in 05:18:00 on 2016-11-05
Strait of Juan de Fuca
- Vancouver Island to Washington State: Andrew Malinak - 16.8km in 06:59:00 on 2015-09-06
- Washington State to Vancouver Island (directional): Melissa Blaustein - 16.8km in 07:45:00 on 2017-09-16
US / central & mountain
Lake Michigan
- Chicago IL to Benton Harbor MI: Abdel Latif Abou Heif - 96.6km in 34:38:00 on 1963-08-22
- Chicago IL to Michigan City IN: Elizabeth Fry - 56km in 21:45 on 2020-09-03
- Michigan City IN to Chicago IL: Jon Erikson - 60km in 19:11 on 1980-07-04
- Juneway Bch IL to Hammond Bch IN (Chicago Skyline Swim): Marcia Cleveland and Chris Layton - 38.4km in 12:49:00 on 2008-07-31
Lake Erie
- Sturgeon Point NY to Crystal Beach ON: Jade Scognamillo - 19.2km in 05:40:35 on 2008-07-12
- Crystal Beach ON to Sturgeon Point NY (directional): Greg Willoughby - 19.2km in 06:17:40 on 2011-07-15
- Long Point ON to Freeport Beach PA: Conrad Kubaney - 39.1km in 10:56:45 on 2018-08-04
SCAR Swim Challenge
- Saguaro Lake: Mormon Flat Dam to Stewart Mountain Dam: Michael Rice - 13.3km in 02:47:40 on 2023-04-26
- Canyon Lake: Horse Mesa Dam to Mormon Flat Dam: Grace van der Byl - 14.1km in 02:41:05 on 2013-05-02
- Apache Lake: Roosevelt Dam to Horse Mesa Dam: Michael Rice - 22.8km in 04:52:46 on 2023-04-28
- Roosevelt Lake: Small dock to Roosevelt Dam: John Humenik - 10km in 02:23:05 on 2016-04-30
US / east
Around Manhattan Island
Includes Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, 20 Bridges, and Manhattan solo swims.
- Manhattan circumnavigation: Oliver Wilkinson - 45.9km in 05:44:02 on 2011-09-28
- Manhattan double circumnavigation: James Loreto 91.8km in 19:36 on 2020-09-19
- Manhattan triple circumnavigation: Skip Storch - 137.7km in 32:52:30 on 2007-08-29
- Manhattan circumnavigation (CW / directional): Rondi Davies - 45.9km in 11:00 on 2019-09-01
8 Bridges Hudson River Swim
- Rip Van Winkle Bridge to Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge: Grace van der Byl - 29.5km in 04:31:18 on 2012-06-25
- Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge to Mid-Hudson Bridge: Ryan McCabe - 31.9km in 05:21:37 on 2019-06-09
- Mid-Hudson Bridge to Newburgh-Beacon Bridge: John Humenik - 21.2km in 03:39:51 on 2014-06-20
- Newburgh-Beacon Bridge to Bear Mountain Bridge: Adrienne Groccia - 24.1km in 04:07:45 on 2019-06-11
- Bear Mountain Bridge to Tappan Zee Bridge: Grace van der Byl - 31.9km in 06:05:00 on 2012-06-30
- Tappan Zee Bridge to George Washington Bridge: Lori King - 25.3km in 03:06:18 on 2015-06-13
- George Washington Bridge to Verrazano Narrows Bridge: Grace van der Byl - 29.9km in 04:21:31 on 2012-07-02
Around Absecon Island
- Absecon Island circumnavigation: Stéphane Gomez - 37km in 06:37:09 on 2004-07-24
- Absecon Island circumnavigation (directional / CCW): Stéphane Lecat - 37km in 06:54:00 on 2001-08-04
Boston Light
- Boston Light to L Street: David Alleva - 12.6km in 02:20:00 on 1995-08-26
- Two-way: L St - Boston Light - L St: Alana Aubin - 25.2km in 06:18:01 on 2019-08-05
- Three-way: L St - Boston Light - L St - Boston Light: Elaine Kornbau Howley and Kim Garbarino - 37.8km in 14:22:01 on 2019-07-19
Cape Cod Bay
- Plymouth to Provincetown: Eliza Cummings - 30.5km in 09:37:14 on 2016-08-07
New York Bay
Includes Ederle Swim, Ederle-Burke Swim, and solo New York Bay swims between Sandy Hook NJ and Manhattan.
- One-way: Battery to Sandy Hook: Lance Ogren - 28.1km in 04:01:07 on 2011-09-01
- Sandy Hook to Battery (directional): Reade Otto-Moudry - 28.1km in 04:38:38 on 2012-07-03
- Two-way: Battery - Sandy Hook - Battery: Elizabeth Fry - 56.2km in 11:05:07 on 2011-06-14
Swim Across the Sound
- Port Jefferson to Bridgeport: Grant Robinson - 25km in 04:39:03 on 1998-NA-NA
- Bridgeport to Port Jefferson (directional): Jaime Lomelin Gavaldon - 25km in 07:21:16 on 2018-08-06
Lake Memphremagog
Includes In Search of Memphre and the Traversee du lac Memphremagog.
- Newport to Magog: Petar Stoychev - 40.2km in 08:11:21 on 2001-07-21
- Magog to Newport: Stephen Rouch - 40.2km in 13:32:00 on 2019-08-23
- Two-way: Magog to Newport to Magog: Sarah Thomas - 80.4km in 30:01:00 on 2013-09-07
- Two-way: Newport to Magog to Newport: Stephen Rouch - 80.4km in 25:12:00 on 2019-08-23
Swim the Suck
- Suck Creek boat launch to TN River Gardens: Alex Meyer - 16.6km in 02:45:03 on 2015-10-10
Tampa Bay Marathon Swim
- Sunshine Skyway to Campbell Causeway: Christopher Derks - 37km in 07:41:38 on 2002-04-22
- Campbell Causeway to Sunshine Skyway (directional): Christopher Derks - 37km in 09:04:41 on 2001-04-23
Lake George
- One-way length: Elizabeth Almond - LG Village to Ticonderoga, 51.8 km in 17:07 in 2021.
- Two-way length: Caroline Block - LG Village - Ticonderago - LG Village, 103.6km in 52:24 in 2020.
- Ticonderoga to LG Village (directional): Charlotte Brynn - 51.8km in 17:58 in 2020.
Canada
Around Bowen Island
- Bowen Island circumnavigation: Debbie Collins - 30.5km in 09:20:00 on 1998-NA-NA
- Bowen Island circumnavigation (directional / CW): Brent Hobbs - 30.5km in 09:26:00 on 2008-07-28
Georgia Strait
- Nanaimo to Sechelt: Mike Powley - 28.6km in 09:23:00 on 1967-NA-NA
- Sechelt to Nanaimo (directional): James Monk - 28.6km in 09:35:00 on 2010-07-03
Lake Ontario
- Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto: John Kinsella - 51km in 13:49 on 1978-08-16
- Two-way (Toronto - Port Dalhousie - Toronto): Sean Nuttall - 100.5km in 42:27:08 on 2022-08-14
Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean
- Péribonka-Roberval: Stéphane Lecat - 32km in 06:22:48 on 2000-07-29
- Two-way: Roberval-Péribonka-Roberval: Paul Asmuth - 64km in 17:06:53 on 1989-07-30
Latin America
Cruce Rio de la Plata
- Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay) - Punta Lara (Argentina): Damian Blaum - 40km in 09:06:00 on 2018-02-17
- Punta Lara (Argentina) to Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay): Darwin Scrolloni - 40km in 21:18:00 on 2003-03-06
Leme to Pontal
- Leme to Pontal: Glauco Luis de Oliveira Rangel - 35km in 07:13:00 on 2018-10-09
Australia and New Zealand
Cook Strait
- North Island to South Island: Casey Glover - 23km in 04:37:00 on 2008-04-13
- South Island to North Island (directional): Denise Anderson - 23km in 05:04:00 on 1986-01-20
- Two-way: North Island to South Island to North Island: Philip Rush - 46km in 16:16:00 on 1984-03-13
Derwent River
- New Norfolk Bridge to Tasman Bridge: John Van Wisse - 34km in 6:49 on 2021-03-08.
Foveaux Strait
- Stewart Island to South Island: Chloe Harris - 28.6km in 08:30:00 on 2016-02-01
- South Island to Stewart Island (directional): Todd Utteridge - 28.6km in 08:40:00 on 1989-02-15
Lake Taupo
- Little Waihi to Taupo: Philip Rush - 40.2km in 10:14:58 on 1985-03-10
- Taupo to Little Waihi (directional): Eliza Cummings - 40.2km in 11:49:49 on 2019-03-19
- Two-way: Taupo-Waihi-Taupo: Philip Rush - 80.4km in 23:05:00 on 1985-01-14
Rottnest Channel
- Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island: Bailey Armstrong - 19.7km in 03:48:14 on 2023-02-25
- Two-way: Mainland - Rottnest - Mainland: Bob Tarr - 39.4km in 09:15:01 on 2018-04-06
- Three-way: Rottnest - Mainland - Rottnest - Mainland: Ceinwen Roberts - 59.1km in 18:48:00 on 2013-03-24
Pacific Islands
Apolima Strait
- Mulifanua to Salelologa: Phillip Ryan - 22.3km in 05:03:00 on 2016-04-07
Kaiwi Channel
- Molokai to Oahu: Attila Mányoki - 45km in 12:02:00 on 2015-09-21
- Oahu to Molokai (directional): Harry Huffaker - 45km in 16:15:00 on 1972-09-NA
Continental Europe
Beltquerung
- Bruno Baumgartner - 19km in 04:53:00 on 2012-08-29
- Two-way: Fehmarn-Lolland-Fehmarn: Bruno Dobelmann - 38km in 19:13:00 on 2011-07-27
Bodensee
- Romanshorn CH to Friedrichshafen DE: Christof Wandratsch - 11.2km in 02:28:00 on 2015-06-21
- Friedrichshafen DE to Romanshorn CH (directional): Axel Ehrhardt - 11.2km in 02:48:00 on 2015-07-04
- Two-way: Friedrichshafen - Romanshorn - Friedrichshafen: Sandra Hornig - 22km in 06:41:00 on 2018-08-28
- Three-way: Friedrichshafen - Romanshorn - Friedrichshafen - Romanshorn: Thais Fernandes Sant’Ana - 33.6km in 09:10:00 on 2017-08-23
- Lindau DE - Rorschach CH - Bregenz AT: Christof Wandratsch - 32.4km in 08:43:00 on 2016-07-24
- Bodmann DE to Bregenz AT: Christof Wandratsch - 64km in 20:41:00 on 2013-07-22
Bonifacio Strait
- Corsica to Sardinia: Matthew van de Schootbrugge - 13.5km in 03:48:00 on 2018-10-14
- Sardinia to Corsica (directional): Nathaniel Waring - 13.5km in 04:14:00 on 2017-07-09
- Two-way: Sardinia - Corsica - Sardinia: Daniel Douglas di Pierro - 27km in 09:32:00 on 2017-07-05
IJsselmeer Zwemmarathon
- Stavoren to Medemblik: Marcel Schouten - 22km in 04:18:06 on 2012-NA-NA
Lake Balaton
- Balatonkenese to Keszthely: Attila Mányoki - 75.5km in 25:32:00 on 2008-07-06
Lake Geneva
- Montreux to Geneva: Alain Charmey - 69km in 22:43:30 on 1986-08-NA
- Geneva to Montreaux (directional): Jaimie Monahan - 69km in 28:36:00 on 2016-09-01
Lake Zurich
- Rapperswil to Zurich: Mohamed Marouf - 26.4km in 05:51:41 on 1993-07-17
- Two-way: Lido Rapperswil - Zürich Lido Tiefenbrunnen - Lido Rapperswil: Katrin Walter - 52.8km in 17:25:15 on 2018-08-18
Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli
- Capri to Napoli: Vitaliy Khudyakov - 36km in 06:11:27 on 2014-09-07
Menorca Channel
- Mallorca to Menorca: Pieter Christian Jongeneel Anderica - 36.5km in 09:24:00 on 2015-09-21
- Menorca to Mallorca (directional): Marti Riera Riera - 36.5km in 10:13:00 on 2017-07-04
Messenian Gulf Swim
- Kalamata to Koroni: Ian van der Hulst - 30km in 06:32:00 on 2010-09-NA
- Two-way: Armin Wunder - 60km in 18:32:00 on 2011-09-NA
Strait of Gibraltar
- Europe to Africa: Georgios Charcharis - 14.4km in 02:16:00 on 2009-08-24
- Two-way: Europe - Africa - Europe: Jim Barber - 28.8km in 07:49:00 on 2011-07-11
Toroneos Gulf Marathon
- Kallithea to Nikiti Beach: Anastasios Sachpazidis - 24.5km in 05:25:00 on 2013-07-14
- Two-way: Giorgios Stavropoulos - 49km in 13:22:00 on 2016-07-09
Africa
False Bay
- Rooi Els to Miller’s Point: Barend Nortje - 32.7km in 09:17:00 on 2007-03-05
- Miller's Point to Rooi Els: Kyle Stephens - 32.7km in 08:08:15 on 2022-03-01
Lake Malawi
- Cape Ngombo to Senga Bay: Milko van Gool - 23.5km in 08:46:59 on 2013-02-20
Robben Island
- Robben Island - Three Anchor Bay: Christof Wandratsch - 10.2km in 02:11:00 on 2005-02-05
- Three Anchor Bay - Robben Island: John Bush - 10.2km in 02:36:00 on 1979-09-03
- Two-way: Blouberg - Robben Island - Blouberg: Anthony Pearse - 14.8km in 03:51:00 on 2014-04-12
- Two-way: Robben Island - Three Anchor Bay - Robben Island: Steven Klugman - 20.4km in 05:52:00 on 2002-03-03
- Blouberg - Round Robben Island - Blouberg: Jeanine Pearse - 21km in 06:12:00 on 2014-06-28
- Three Anchor Bay - Round Robben Island - Three Anchor Bay: Theodore Yach - 31km in 10:39:00 on 2009-11-28
Asia
Clean Half & Cold Half
- Stanley Main Beach to Deepwater Bay Beach: Trent Grimsey - 15km in 03:14:23 on 2013-10-12
Tsugaru Strait
- Honshu to Hokkaido: Steven Munatones - 19.5km in 06:11:00 on 1990-07-30
- Hokkaido to Honshu (directional): Steven Munatones - 19.5km in 06:39:00 on 1990-07-30
- Three-way: Honshu to Hokkaido to Honshu to Hokkaido: Miyuki Fujita - 58.5km in 37:24:00 on 2006-NA-NA
Around Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Island circumnavigation: Simon Holliday - 45km in 12:34:00 on 2017-11-11
- Hong Kong Island circumnavigation (directional / CCW): Linda McGill - 45km in 17:06:00 on 1976-05-23
Lake Issyk Kul
- Kara-Talaa to Toru-Aygyr: Sarah D’Antoni - 13.5km in 04:43:00 on 2016-08-23
- Ananyevo to Kirpichny: Akhmed Anarbaev - 33km in 10:42:00 on 1982-NA-NA
Palk Strait
- Talaimannar to Dhanushkodi: M. Tulasi Chaithanya - 29km in 08:25:00 on 2018-03-25
- Two-way:: Talaimannar to Dhanushkodi to Talaimannar: V.S. Kumar Anandan - 58km in 51:NA:00 on 1974-NA-NA
- Valvettithurai to Point Calimere: Murugupillai Navratnaswami - 59km in 27:08:00 on 1954-03-27