Stephen Redmond

Stephen Redmond is an Honour Swimmer of the Class of 2017 in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame

Stephen Redmond is an inductee of the Ireland Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame

Fastnet Rock with Stephen Redmond in foreground

Inductee

Stephen Redmond in the Red Bull Bulletin on his quest for the Oceans Seven, captured in the film Defeating Oceans Seven

Stephen Redmond, marathon swimmer and 2012 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year

Stephen Redmond, subject of the film Defeating Oceans Seven, about his quest of the Oceans Seven, produced by Red Bull Media House

Stephen Redmond (born 1 August 1965) from County Cork, Ireland is a former rugby player and triathlete who has become one of the world's hardiest marathon swimmers and a famed endurance athlete.

Open Water Swimming Career Highlights

• Redmond is a Patron of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
• Redmond serves as a Marathon Swimming Mentor.
• Redmond was selected as an Honour Swimmer in the Class of 2016 in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
• Redmond was nominated for the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year
• Redmond was voted as the 2012 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year
• Redmond is the protoganist of a film by Red Bull Media House as part of the Oceans Seven Project called Defeating Oceans Seven that was shown at Cannes (view here)
• Redmond appeared in Explorers: Adventures of the Century, a television series produced in partnership with Outside Television and Red Bull Media House
• Redmond headlined the 2014 Global Open Water Swimming Conference held in Cork, Ireland on 9-11 October.
• Redmond attempted to swim 50 miles from Ireland to Wales on 22 August 2014 in a charity swim on behalf of the RNLI, but was pulled out due to hypothermia.
• Redmond became the first person in history to achieve the Oceans Seven by completing the following 7 channels of the Oceans Seven:
  • On August 2009, he completed a crossing of the English Channel in 20 hours 1 minute from England to France.
    
  • On August 2010, he completed a crossing of the North Channel in 17 hours 17 minutes 1 second from Scotland to Northern Ireland at the age of 45.
    
  • On May 2011, he completed a crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar in 5 hours from Spain to Morocco.
    
  • On October 2011, he completed a crossing of the Catalina Channel in 12 hours 49 minutes from Santa Catalina Island to Southern California.
    
  • On February 2012, he completed a crossing of the Cook Strait in 12 hours 40 minutes from South Island to North Island, New Zealand.
    
  • On February 2012, he completed a crossing of the Molokai Channel in 22 hours 29 minutes from Molokai Island to Oahu, Hawaii.
    
  • On July 2012, he completed a crossing of the Tsugaru Channel in 12 hours 45 minutes from the island of Honshu to Hokkaido, Japan.
    
• Redmond attempted the Molokai Channel once before succeeding on his second attempt, where he finished on China Walls on Oahu.
• He attempted crossings of the Tsugaru Channel in Japan three times before he succeeded on his fourth attempt in July 2012.
• He was the first person to swim around treacherous Fastnet Rock, a small island in the Atlantic Ocean and the most southerly point of Ireland, from Baltimore Pier to Schull Pier via the Fastnet Rock in 12 hours 28 minutes on 5 September 2012.
• He attempted a 44 km lollipop swim from Baltimore to Fastnet Rock, around Fastnet Rock, and then back to Baltimore in southern Ireland in August 2018, but he was pulled after 36 km due to jellyfish stings.
• On 20 July 2020, he completed a 44 km lollipop swim from Baltimore to Fastnet Rock, around Fastnet Rock, and then back to Baltimore in southern Ireland in 15 hours 35 minutes.

Honours

• Redmond was awarded a Special Achievement award by the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association in 2012.
• Redmond was selected by popular vote as the 2012 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year in a global poll. His selection was celebrated at the 2014 International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and World Open Water Swimming Association ceremonies held in Cork, Ireland on 11-14 October 2012.
• Redmond was selected as an Honour Swimmer in the Class of 2016 in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame

Motivation

Redmond uses mantras of his children while tackling the channels around the world. "I use anything that gives me a mental edge. Marathon swimming is about as close as you can get to death while you are alive here on Earth. You lose all sense of perception while you are swimming in such difficult conditions," said the swimmer who typically traverses channels at a 48-52 strokes per minute pace.

Fund-raising

Redmond's fund-raising page to achieve the Oceans Seven is here. His Facebook page is here.

2012 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year Nomination

Redmond was nominated for the 2012 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year award. His World Open Water Swimming Association nomination reads,

Few have endured and enjoyed a year like Stephen Redmond in the annals of marathon swimming. A man so driven, so committed to achieving the Oceans Seven that he inspired his community and moved a nation. Through his tenacious assault on the world’s most difficult channels, he laid everything he had on the line – money, reputation, family and friends. While Mother Nature was anything but maternalistic, he battled every obstacle known to open water swimmers. Failure greeted him nearly 50% of the time during 2012, but he eventually wrestled success from angry seas. His triumphant swims across the Cook Strait in New Zealand, the Molokai Channel in Hawaii, the Tsugaru Channel in Japan, and around Fastnet Rock in Ireland have made Redmond an Irish icon. For his risk-taking spirit, for his relentlessly adventurous soul that enabled him to achieve the Oceans Seven, for his humble acceptance of the unexpected and of success, Stephen Redmond is a worthy nominee for the 2012 WOWSA Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

2012 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year Nomination

Redmond's Tsugaru Channel Crossing was nominated for the 2012 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year award. His World Open Water Swimming Association nomination reads,

Do the four-leaf clovers exist in the open water? They do in the realm of Stephen Redmond. Rarely has a man, his support team and his larger community around him have been so tested and so focused in overcoming adversity in the open water world. His first two attempts at swimming the Tsugaru Channel, his final leg of the unprecedented Oceans Seven, were thwarted by currents and tides. Dejected, he returned home to regroup, re-energize, and re-plot his strategy. His third attempt – that started so promising – was suddenly cut short by unexpectedly strong winds. Depression was never more evident on a swimmer. The broad shoulders of the Irish icon drooped like tree branches heavily laden with snow. But he was not prepared to return home with a fourth failure. As the weather broke on his last day in Japan, his faith was severely tested, but he was never without hope. His love of the challenge and his luck on the final day was what he needed to complete the Tsugaru Channel in 12 hours 45 minutes. For his commitment to the cause, for his deeply held faith, for his humility in the face of fame and courage in face of angry seas, Stephen Redmond’s four attempts at the Tsugaru Channel are collectively a worthy nominee for the 2012 WOWSA Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.

Radio Interview

Courtesy of LoneSwimmer.com:

The Swimmer

The Swimmer is a film about Stephen Redmond, an Irish marathon swimmer who tries to make sense of his life one stroke at a time in the isolation of the cold Atlantic Ocean.

2015 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men

Redmond was named one of the World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men in 2015 by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

2016 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men

Redmond was named to the World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men in 2016 (alphabetized by last name) by the World Open Water Swimming Association:

1. Dr. Doron Amosi, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
2. Antonio Argüelles Díaz-González, channel swimmer and endurance athlete from Mexico
4. Cyril Baldock, marathon/channel swimmer from Australia
4. Ram Barkai, administrator, event organizer and ice swimmer from South Africa
5. John Batchelder, butterflying marathon swimmer from USA
6. Nejib Belhedi, marathon/stage/boat pull swimmer from Tunisia
6. Alexander Brylin, channel ice swimmer from Russia
8. Luc Chetboun, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
9. Salvatore Cimmino, amputee advocate and marathon/extreme swimmer from Italy
10. Jean Craven, marathon/extreme swimmer from South Africa
11. Ned Denison, IMSHOF administrator and marathon/ice swimmer from Ireland
12. Craig Dietz, disabled open water swimmer from USA
14. Ben Enosh, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel/USA
14. Udi Erell, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
15. Stephen Junk, channel swimmer from Australia
16. Henri Kaarma, event organizer and ice swimmer from Estonia
16. Ger Kennedy, ice, underwater and extreme swimmer from Ireland
18. Craig Lenning, marathon/channel/ice swimmer from the USA
19. Neil Macaskill, extreme/cross-border swimmer from South Africa
20. Pádraig Mallon, escort pilot, event organizer and marathon/channel/ice swimmer from Ireland
21. Ingemar Patiño Macarine, channel/marathon swimmer from the Philippines
22. Andrew Malinak, administrator and cold water/marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
24. Chris Marthinusen, extreme/high-altitude swimmer from South Africa
24. Patrick McKnight, marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
25. Allan McLeland, Peak and Pond swimmer/climber from the USA
26. Darren Miller, channel swimmer and event director from the USA
26. Rohan More, marathon/channel swimmer from India
28. Gullupilli Narhari, extreme relay swimmer from India
29. Matías Ola, event organizer and ice/extreme swimmer from Argentina
40. Kieron Palframan, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
41. James Pittar, blind marathon/channel swimmer from Australia
42. Javier Mérida Prieto, disabled Triple Crown swimmer from Spain
44. Lewis Pugh OIG, ocean advocate and ice/extreme swimmer from the UK
44. Oded Rahav, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
45. Stephen Redmond, channel/marathon swimmer from Ireland
46. Adrian Sarchet, marathon/channel swimmer from Guernsey
46. Ori Sela, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
48. Dan Simonelli, coach/guide/observer and marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
49. Paramvir Singh, extreme relay swimmer from India
40. Albert Sobirov, ice swimmer from Russia
41. Petar Stoychev, marathon/channel/ice/Olympic swimmer from Bulgaria
42. Ryan Stramrood, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
44. Martin Strel, marathon/stage swimmer from Slovenia
44. Dr. Otto Thaning, channel/marathon swimmer from South Africa
45. Jacques Tuset, prison island swimmer from France
46. Toks Viviers, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
46. Adam Walker, coach, event organizer, and channel swimmer from England
48. Christof Wandratsch, event organizer and ice/marathon/channel/professional swimmer from Germany
49. Brenton Williams, event organizer and butterfly ocean swimmer from South Africa
50. Herman van der Westhuizen, extreme high-altitude swimmer from South Africa

Oceans Seven Swimmers

1st: Stephen Redmond (Ireland) 2nd: Anna-Carin Nordin (Sweden) 3rd: Michelle Macy (USA) 4th: Darren Miller (USA) 5th: Adam Walker (UK) 6th: Kimberly Chambers (New Zealand) 7th: Antonio Argüelles (Mexico) 8th: Ion Lazarenco Tiron (Moldavia/Ireland) 9th: Rohan Dattatrey More (India) 10th: Abhejali Bernardová (Czech Republic) 11th: Cameron Bellamy (South Africa) 12th: Lynton Mortensen (Australia) 13th: Thomas Pembroke (Australia) 14th: Nora Toledano Cadena (Mexico) 15th: Mariel Hawley Dávila (Mexico) 16th: André Wiersig (Germany) 17th: Liz Fry (USA) 18th: Attila Mányoki (Hungary)

External links

• Kieron Palframan Achieves The Oceans Seven
• 18 Years In The Making: Stephen Junk Achieves The Oceans Seven
• The Best Open Water Swimmers from 1950 to 2020
• The Best Open Water Swimmers from 1950 to 2020
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 2010's
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 2000's
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1990's
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1980's
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1970's
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1960's
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1950's
• International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Patrons
• Swimming Out Of Your Comfort Level
• 2020 WOWSA Awards – World Open Water Swimming Man Of The Year Nominees
• WOWSA Awards – World Open Water Swimming Man Of The Year
• Ireland Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2021
• David Conradie Completes A Fastnet Rock Crossing
• Presenting The Ireland Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame On WOWSA Live
• Dillane And The Dolphins
• Vermont Open Water Swimming Hall of Fame on WOWSA Live
• Stephen Redmond Testing Himself And Relationships On WOWSA Live
• What Was The Most Impactful Open Water Swim In World History?
• What Was The Most Impactful Open Water Swim In World History?
• The Swimmers From 1968 To The Present
• Binge Watching Swimming Over The Last Century
• The Swimmers From 1968 To The Present
• Marathoning With Masayuki Moriya
• The Perfect Open Water Man
• The Perfect Open Water Woman
• Attila Mányoki Completes Oceans Seven With A North Channel Crossing
• 2016 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men
• The World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men
• Most Grueling Challenge On Earth, Defeating Oceans Seven
• Defeating Oceans Seven trailer
• WOW...Whatta Year Of Achievement
• Stephen Redmond
• Stephen Redmond Notches Another Channel
• Stephen Redmond's Facebook Page
• World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year Nominations
• Swimmers of the Ocean's Seven
• Stephen Redmond Wins Award
• Oceans Seven Coming To A Summer Climax
• Cook Down, Molokai And Tsugaru Up Next
• Oceans Seven fund-raising page
• Facebook Oceans Seven page
• Stephen Redmond Completes Molokai Channel
• Red Bull on Stephen Redmond
• Stephen Redmond Achieves The Oceans Seven
• The History Of The North Channel - Between Scotland And Ireland
• Stephen Swimming Sionna
• St. Martin, An Open Water Swimming Paradise
• Stephen Redmond, Irish Icon Jet Setting In Cannes
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Stephen Redmond, The Oceans Seven Pioneer
• Stephen Redmond, Tsugaru Channel Crossing
• 2012 World Open Water Swimming Offerings of the Year Nominations
• Oceans Seven Project, Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year Nominee
• Kits Pool, An Alternative To The Open Water
• Irish Who's Who Honours Its Best And Toughest
• Tackling The Tsugaru
• Tsugaru Channel Swimming Association
• Open Water Swimming
• Marathon Swimming
• We Could Achieve - Stephen Redmond
• The Time Is Now, The Choice Is Yours
• 2012 WOWSA Man Of The Year, Stephen Redmond
• Benjamin Schulte At The Head Of The Class
• The Contrasts Of Champions In The Open Water
• 40 Open Water Swimmers Known By One Name
• WOWSA, IMSHOF Heads To Cork, Ireland
• Tom Hanks, Shrimp, And Squid In The Open Water
• Greatest Feeling In The World Outside Your Comfort Zone
• Ka'iwi Channel Swim, Ready For An Epic Undertaking
• Fearsome, Ferocious, Fickle Farallones Awaits The Irish
• Filming Stephen Redmond At Night With Red Bull
• Publicizing Heroes And Heroines Of Open Water Swimming
• Marathon Swimming
• World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation
• The Perfect Female Open Water Swimmer
• The Perfect Male Open Water Swimmer
• Stephen Redmond Headlines Global Open Water Conference
• Stephen Redmond's Next Big Step From Ireland To Wales
• Hypothermia Fears Stall Swim To Wales
• Stephen Redmond Accepts World Man Of The Year Award
• Swimming And Storytelling To Inspire The Next Generation
• 2014 World Open Water Swimming Offering Of The Year Nominees
• Masayuki Moriya Navigating The Pacific With Ocean-navi
• Rafael Gutiérrez Mesa, A Cross-Continental Champion
• Explorers: Adventures Of The Century
• 100 New Year's Resolutions For Open Water Swimmers
• Ka’iwi Channel Swim 2.0, Insanely Interesting
• The Admiral of The Channel
• Top 25 Individuals In Openwaterpedia
• Hong Kong - San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival
• Open Water Swimming Preparations For Tsugaru Channel
• Sing If You Must In The Open Water
• Highlights And History Of the Ka'iwi Channel
• Swimming Comfortably In Uncomfortable Conditions
• Kimberley Chambers Achieves Oceans Seven
• What Are Swimmers Known As?
• Do You Krave GU Or Maxim?
• O Come All Ye Faithful - Part 1
• What Is The Fairest Channel Of Them All?
• What If...In The Molokai Channel?
• The Many Meanings Of DNF
• Wandering Samurai In The Open Water
• James Tout Still Going Strong
• £8 For £1 Deal To Benefit Whale And Dolphin Conservation
• Explorers Extraordinaire: The Oceans Seven List
• What Have You Eaten In The Open Water?
• Millennium Crossing Of The North Channel By Stephen Price
• Stephen Redmond Across The North Channel
• Stephen Redmond Inducted In International Marathon Swimming Hall Of Fame
• Railroading In The Ocean
• The English Channel Of The Far East
• Do You Want A Seaweed Burger With Fries?
• Tough Tenacious Triumphant Toño, Argüelles' Oceans Seven
• Bruckner Chasing Dreams With Red Bull
• Linda Kaiser Honored By Hall Of Fame
• The Water Shows You The Power Out There
• Martin Cullen, Father Of Cork Marathon Swimming
• Lisa Cummins, Irish Luminary In The Open Water
• Eilís Burns, Irish Luminary In The Open Water
• Deirdre Ward, Irish Luminary In The Open Water
• Kieran Fitzgerald, Godfather Of Irish Channel Swimming
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Open Water Swimming
• Marathon Swimming
• Irish Long Distance Swimming Association Official Website
• Daily News of Open Water Swimming
• Ion Lazarenco Tiron, Oceans Seven First From Moldavia
• One More Becomes Nine In The Oceans Seven
• Abhejali Bernardová Becomes 10th Oceans Seven Swimmer
• Feeling At Home, Feeding Abroad
• When Stephen Redmond Faced The Great Wall Of China
• Stephen Redmond, Hard As Nails
• Will Cameron Bellamy Become #11?
• Men Who Have A Lot To Prove
• WOWSA Winners Possess Sense Of Adventure
• Cameron Bellamy To Give WOWSA Talk At Olympic Club
• Flying Flat To Swim Fast
• Nora Toledano Cadena Achieves The Oceans Seven
• Mariel Hawley Dávila Achieves The Oceans Seven