The 007 Challenge
noun - The 007 Challenge is the completion of the two most difficult open water swimming series in the world: the Oceans Seven and the Ice Sevens by a single individual.
The Oceans Seven
The Oceans Seven is the solo achievement of a crossing of seven channels around the world. It is open water swimming's version of the Seven Summits. The Seven Summits are the highest mountains in each of the seven continents, a mountaineering achievement. The concept was first conceived and publicly proposed in June 2008 by Steven Munatones.
The Oceans Seven consists of a solo unassisted crossing of the following waterways around the world:
• North Channel 35 km between Northern Ireland and Scotland
• Cook Strait 23 km between the North Island and South Island of New Zealand
• Molokai Channel 45 km between Oahu and Molokai Island in the state of Hawaii
• English Channel 33.5 km between England and France
• Catalina Channel 32.3 km between Catalina Island and Palos Verdes Peninsula on the Southern California mainland
• Tsugaru Channel 19.5 km between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido in northern Japan
• Strait of Gibraltar 14.4 km between Europe (Spain) and Africa (Morocco)
The Ice Sevens
The Ice Sevens is the ice swimming equivalent of the Oceans Seven. It was conceived and developed by Ger Kennedy and Steven Munatones, circa 2016, with the support of and governance by the International Ice Swimming Association.
To achieve the Ice Sevens, a swimmer must complete an ice mile under standard ice swimming rules (i.e., no wetsuit and no neoprene hat) in the following locations. The swims must be ratified or recognized by the International Ice Swimming Association.
o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Europe
o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Oceania
o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Asia
o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in North America
o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Africa
o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in South America
o An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any Polar location at 60º south or below or 70º north or above
o One of the seven Ice Miles must be a documented Zero Ice Mile (defined as a solo mile swim performed at below 1ºC)
Origin
- Coined by Steven Munatones and Lynton Mortensen.
Members
- Lynton Mortensen on 27 May 2025.
