John Zemaitis

Joe Zemaitis and John Zemaitis after crossing the Tsugaru Channel in Japan on 9 July 2026 with Captain Hashimoto (on bottom left). The Zemaitis Brothers are the first people in history to complete the Stillwater 8

John Zemaitis on left and Joe Zemaitis on right before the Ultimate Swim-a-Thon

Ultimate Swim-A-Thon support crew from left to right: escort pilot Henry Palmer, observer Jerry George, marathon swimmer Joe Zemaitis, RV driver Jacqui Lockwood, and marathon swimmer John Zemaitis

Ultimate Swim-A-Thon support crew from left to right: marathon swimmer John Zemaitis, Roric Fink, marathon swimmer Joe Zemaitis, Braxton Bilbrey, and Steve Bilbrey

Joe Zemaitis and John Zemaitis crossing Loch Ness in Scotland under the escort of Captain Ryan Tozer

John Zemaitis is a 41-year-old American open water swimmer from Swim Neptune and Scottsdale, Arizona. He is the brother of fellow marathon swimmer Joe Zemaitis.

2020 WOWSA Awards

Joe and John Zemaitis were nominated for the 2020 WOWSA Awards in the World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year with the following nomination: Joe Zemaitis and John Zemaitis could not be more similar and more alike. In a year like no other, the two brothers from Arizona took to the seas, rivers and lakes from coast to coast during their off times. And swim they did, in warm and cold, tranquil and turbulent. Older brother Joe and younger brother John bring two totally different approaches to the sport: one is intense and diligent, the other is laidback and swims whenever. They both smile broadly and laugh frequently; they both enjoy adventures and love travel. They set a goal when both their work schedules allow and did 644 km worth of tandem swims in 2020. For their swims across Monterey Bay, Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara Channel, twice around Manhattan Island, for Joe's 112 km solo Roosevelt Lake swim in 47 hours 23 minutes, and for the boundless joy and goodwill and appreciation they have for others and the sport, brothers Joe and John Zemaitis of the USA are worthy nominees for the 2020 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

Stillwater 8

Joe Zemaitis and John Zemaitis are the first people in history to complete the Stillwater 8:

On 26 July 2015, he swam 26.4 km across Lake Zurich in Switzerland in 7 hours 55 minutes 38 seconds in the Lake Zurich Marathon Swim, finishing second to his brother Joe Zemaitis in 7 hour 40 minutes 23 seconds.
On 8 August 2018, he swam 36.2 km across Loch Ness in Scotland in 11 hours 21 minutes at the age of 35 in a tandem swim with Joe Zemaitis.
On 15 November 2019, he swam 41 km two ways across the Sea of Galilee in Israel in 14 hours 52 minutes (7 hours 9 minutes on first leg and 7 hours 43 minutes on second leg) in a tandem swim with Joe Zemaitis at the age of 36.
On 28 August 2023, he swam 34.2 km across Lake Tahoe in the USA in 11 hours 21 minutes 9 seconds at the age of 40.
On 20 February 2022, he swam 40.2 km across Lake Taupō in New Zealand in 13 hours 45 minutes 10 seconds at the age of 40 in a tandem swim with Joe Zemaitis.
On 10 July 2023, he swam 23.5 km across Lake Malawi in 7 hours 49 minutes 42 seconds at the age of 40 in a tandem swim with Joe Zemaitis.
On 27 March 2024, he swam 15.2 km km across Lago Titicaca in 5 hours 0 minutes 25 seconds at the age of 40 in a tandem swim with Joe Zemaitis.
On 24 July 2025, he swam 50.4 km across Lake Ontario from the USA to Toronto, Canada in 17 hours 17 minutes at the age of 41 in a tandem swim with Joe Zemaitis.

Open Water Swimming Highlights

On 11 August 2026, he achieved the Stillwater 8 together with his brother Joe Zemaitis.
He competed in the IISA 6th World Championship in Molveno, Italy between 14-18 January 2025.
He competed in the IISA 5th World Championship in Samoëns, France between 11-15 January 2023.
On 23 August 2013, he completed the 14.4 km Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco in 5 hours 34 minutes at the age of 30
He participated in the 2015 S.C.A.R. Swim Challenge is a 4-day stage swim in Arizona in the Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Apache Lake, and Roosevelt Lake, one of the longest marathon swimming events in the world. He finished 10th overall on Day Two in Canyon Lake.
- On 6 May 2015, he completed a 13.3 km crossing of Saguaro Lake at the SCAR Swim Challenge in 3 hours 44 minutes 36 seconds at the age of 32
- On 7 May 2015, he completed a 14.1 km crossing of Canyon Lake at the SCAR Swim Challenge in 3 hours 34 minutes 11 seconds at the age of 32
- On 8 May 2015, he completed a 22.8 km crossing of Apache Lake at the SCAR Swim Challenge in 8 hours 2 minutes 53 seconds at the age of 32
- On 9 May 2015, he completed a 9 km crossing of Roosevelt Lake at the SCAR Swim Challenge in 3 hours 9 minutes 15 seconds at the age of 32
On 26 July 2015, he won the 26.4 km International Self-Transcendence Marathon-Schwimmen (bioprene division) in Switzerland in 7 hours 40 minutes 23 seconds at the age of 32
On 25 June 2017, he finished 8th in the 45.9 km 20 Bridges Manhattan Swim in 7 hours 51 minutes 25 seconds at the age of 34.
On 25 August 2017, he completed a crossing of the English Channel in 11 hours 11 minutes with Andy King as his escort pilot and received the Belhedi Trophy for the Swim on the Highest Tide by the Channel Swimming Association at the age of 34.
On 25 April 2018, he finished 13th in the 13.3 km crossing of Saguaro Lake in the SCAR Swim Challenge in Arizona in 3 hours 37 minutes 46 seconds at the age of 34.
On 26 April 2018, he finished 9th in the 14.1 km crossing of Canyon Lake in the SCAR Swim Challenge in Arizona in 3 hours 40 minutes 9 seconds at the age of 34.
On 27 April 2018, he finished 10th in the 22.8 km crossing of Apache Lake in the SCAR Swim Challenge in Arizona in 6 hours 13 minutes 2 seconds at the age of 34.
On 28 April 2018, he finished 11th in the 10 km crossing of Roosevelt Lake in the SCAR Swim Challenge in Arizona in 3 hours 15 minutes 8 seconds at the age of 34.
He completed in all 7 stage swims of the 120-mile 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim in New York between 19-26 June 2018, finishing second in a cumulative time of 40 hours 1 minute 8 seconds for the 12th fastest overall time in history.
- On 19 June 2018, he finished 3rd in the 29.5 km Stage 1 of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim in New York in 5 hours 14 minutes 35 seconds at the age of 35.
- On 20 June 2018, he finished 4th in the 31.9 km Stage 2 of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim in New York in 6 hours 58 minutes 54 seconds at the age of 35.
- On 21 June 2018, he finished 2nd in the 21.2 km Stage 3 of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim in New York in 4 hours 24 minutes 21 seconds at the age of 35.
- On 22 June 2018, he finished 2nd in the 24.1 km Stage 4 of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim in New York in 4 hours 52 minutes 33 seconds at the age of 35.
- On 24 June 2018, he finished 2nd in the 31.9 km Stage 5 of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim in New York in 8 hours 43 minutes 57 seconds at the age of 35.
- On 25 June 2018, he finished 2nd in the 25.3 km Stage 6 of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim in New York in 3 hours 39 minutes 56 seconds at the age of 35.
- On 26 June 2018, he won the 29.9 km Stage 7 of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim in New York in 6 hours 6 minutes 52 seconds at the age of 35.
On 8 August 2018, he completed a 35.2 km crossing of Loch Ness of Scotland in 11 hours 22 minute at the age of 35 in a tandem swim with brother Joe Zemaitis in 14.0°C to 14.9°C water temperatures.
On 10 October 2018, he completed a 32.3 km crossing of the Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Southern California mainland in 10 hours 25 minutes 14 seconds at the age of 35 to achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.
On 19 October 2018, he completed a 42 km crossing of the Molokai Channel from Molokai to Oahu in Hawaii in 17 hours 51 minutes at the age of 35 for his fourth Oceans Seven channels.
On 24 May 2019, he finished the 38.6 km Tampa Bay Marathon Swim in Florida in 12 hours 4 minutes at the age of 35.
On 5 June 2019, he crossed the 40 km Monterey Bay in northern California in 17 hours 20 minutes at the age of 36.
On 12-15 September 2019, he will compete in the 2019 ʻAu I Nā Mokupuni ʻEkolu Swim Challenge, a 3-day 3-stage ocean channel swim in Hawaii where swimmers swim across 3 Hawaiian channels in 3 days.
On 13 August 2019, he completed a 35 km crossing of the North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland in 11 hours 3 minutes 19.29 seconds from 54 38.221 N - 005 31.558 W (start) to 54 51.422 N - 005 08.743 W (finish), ratified under North Channel Swimming rules.
He swam the three channels between Maui, Lanai and Molokai in Hawaii on three successive days on 12-15 September 2019 in the Au I Na Mokupuni Ekolu Endurance Challenge Invitational:
- Day One across the 14.9 km Kalohi Channel between Lanai and Molokai in 6 hours 4 minutes 40 seconds
- Day Two across the 13.5 km Pailolo Channel between Maui and Molokai in 5 hours 50 minutes 10 seconds
- Day Three across the 14.1 km Auau Channel between Lanai and Maui in 7 hours 47 minutes
On 15 November 2019, he completed a tandem swim with brother Joe Zemaitis, a two-way crossing of the Sea of Galilee swimming in the south-north-south direction in 14 hours 52 minutes, the fastest two-way crossing in history with observer Guy Cohen and escort boat captain Lior Eliyahu on the first south-north-south two-way course completed in history.
On 18-19 September 2020, he tied for second with his brother Joe Zemaitis in the 91.8 km 40 Bridges Swim, a double circumnavigation swim of Manhattan Island in 19 hours 37 minutes 30 seconds (with a 7 hour 19 minute Lap 1 and a 12 hour 18 minute 30 second Lap 2) at the age of 37.
He served as an observer for Joe Zemaitis who completed a 47 hour 23 minute 112 km Roosevelt 4.5 Swim in November 2020.
In July and August 2022, he completed the 25-day, 50 marathon swim Ultimate Swim-A-Thon charity event with his brother Joe Zemaitis across all 50 states of America at the age of 39. It took a cumulative time of 164 hours 15 minutes 15 seconds to cover a total of 521.02 kilometers.
On 13 October 2022, he completed the 33 km DC Marathon Swim in Washington, D.C. in a tandem swim with Joe Zemaitis in 9 hours 24 minutes 31 seconds.

Ultimate Swim-a-Thon

The Ultimate Swim-a-Thon is a 50-state, 50-swim extreme charity swim by American open water swimmers and brothers Joseph Zemaitis and John Zemaitis from Arizona (also known as the Swim Brothers). The Ultimate Swim-a-Thon requires the completion of a marathon swim of at least 10 km in distance in all 50 states. The charity swim benefits USA Swimming Foundation.

Day 1 (20 July 2022), Swim 1: 10.2 km from Makaha Beach to Keawaula Beach on Oahu, Hawaii
Day 2 (21 July 21st), Swim 2: 10.33 km in Big Lake, City of Anchorage, State of Alaska
Day 3 (22 July 22nd), Swim 3: 10.41 km in Lake Tahoe, City of Reno, State of Nevada
Day 3 (22 July 22nd), Swim 4: 10.06 km in Lake Tahoe, State of California
Day 4 (23 July 23rd), Swim 5: 17.16 km in the Willamette River, Portland, State of Oregon
Day 4 (23 July 23rd), Swim 6: 10.32 km in Yale Lake, City of Yale, State of Washington
Day 5 (24 July 24th), Swim 7: 10.00 km in Coeur d’Alene, City of Coeur d’Alene, State of Idaho
Day 5 (24 July 24th), Swim 8: 10.43 km in Flathead Lake, City of Elmo, State of Montana
Day 6 (July 25th), Swim 9: 10.38 km in Lake de Smet, City of Sheridan, State of Wyoming
Day 6 (July 25th), Swim 10: 10.30 km in Belle Fourche Dam, State of South Dakota
Day 7 (July 26th), Swim 11: 10.35 km in Lake Ashtabula, Valley City, State of North Dakota
Postponed due to Lightning: Day 7 (July 26th), Swim 12: 10.08 km in Lake Minnewaska, Glenwood, State of Minnesota
Postponed: Day 7 (July 26th), Swim 13: 10.05 km in Spirit Lake, City of Spirit Lake, Iowa
Day 8 (July 27th), Re-do Swim 12: 10.08 km in Lake Minnewaska, Glenwood, Minnesota
Day 8 (July 27th), Re-do Swim 13: 10.05 km in Spirit Lake, City of Spirit Lake, Iowa
Day 9 (July 28th), Swim 14: 10.22 km in Lake Michigan, City of Kenosha, State of Wisconsin
Day 9 (July 28th), Swim 15: 11.97 km in Lake Michigan, City of Waukegan, State of Illinois
Day 10 (July 29th), Swim 16: 10.08 km in Lake Michigan, Michigan City, State of Indiana
Day 10 (July 29th), Swim 17: 10.21 km in Lake Michigan, New Buffalo, State of Michigan
Day 11 (July 30th), Swim 18: 10.12 km in Lake Erie, City of Conneaut, State of Ohio
Day 11 (July 30th), Swim 19: 10.24 km in Lake Erie, City of Erie, State of Pennsylvania
Postponed: Day 11 (July 30th), Swim 20: 10.24 km in Lake Erie, City of Westfield, State of New York
Day 12 (July 31st), Swim 20: 10.24 km in Lake Champlain, State of New York
Days 12/13 (July 31st/August 1st), Swim 21: 10.20 km in Lake Champlain, State of Vermont
Day 13 (August 1st), Swim 22: 10.13 km in Lake Winnipesaukee, State of New Hampshire
Day 13 (August 1st), Swim 23: 10.08 km in Lake Sebago, City of South Casco, State of Maine
Day 14 (August 2nd), Swim 24: 10.16 km in Narragansett Bay, State of Rhode Island
Day 14 (August 2nd), Swim 25: 10.04 km in Buzzards Bay, Pocasset, State of Massachusetts
Day 14 (August 2nd), Swim 26: 10.08 km in Long Island Sound, Norwalk, State of Connecticut
Day 15 (August 3rd), Swim 27: 10.06 km in Silver Bay, City of Toms River, State of New Jersey
Day 15 (August 3rd), Swim 28: 10.18 km in Rehoboth Bay, Rehoboth Bay, State of Delaware
Day 16 (August 4th), Swim 29: 11.12 km in Eastern Bay, City of Stevensville, State of Maryland
Day 16 (August 4th), Swim 30: 10.46 km in Summersville Lake, State of West Virginia
Day 17 (August 5th), Swim 31: 10.62 km in Lake Wylie, Charlotte, State of South Carolina
Day 17 (August 5th), Swim 32: 10.43 km in Lake Norman, Denver, State of North Carolina
Day 18 (August 6th), Swim 33: 10.22 km in South Holston Lake, Bristol, State of Virginia
Day 18 (August 6th), Swim 34: 10.64 km in South Holston Lake, City of Bristol, Tennessee
Day 18 (August 6th), Swim 35: 10.44 km in Laurel River Lake, Morehead, State of Kentucky
Day 19 (August 7th), Swim 36: 10.62 km in Lake Burton, City of Clayton, State of Georgia
Day 19 (August 7th), Swim 37: 10.22 km in Lake Guntersville, Guntersville, State of Alabama
Day 20 (August 8th), Swim 38: 10.14 km in Choctawhatchee Bay, Destin, State of Florida
Day 20 (August 8th), Swim 39: 10.14 km in Bay St. Louis, Bay St. Louis, State of Mississippi
Day 21 (August 9th), Swim 40: 10.48 km in Toledo Bend Reservoir, Florein, Louisiana
Day 21 (August 9th), Swim 41: 10.16 km in Toledo Bend Reservoir, Fairmont, State of Texas
Day 21 (August 9th), Swim 42: 10.14 km in Broken Bow Lake, Broken Law, State of Oklahoma
Day 22 (August 10th), Swim 43: 10.26 km in Beaver Lake, Bentonville, State of Arkansas
Day 22 (August 10th), Swim 44: 10.58 km in Table Rock Lake, Branson, State of Missouri
Day 23 (August 11th), Swim 45: 10.09 km in Wilson Lake, City of Russell, State of Kansas
Day 23 (August 11th), Swim 46: 10.62 km in Harlan County Lake, Alma, State of Nebraska
Day 24 (August 12th), Swim 47: 10.30 km in Navajo Reservoir], Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
Day 24 (August 12th), Swim 48: 10.00 km in McPhee Reservoir, Fort Collins, Colorado
Day 25 (August 13th), Swim 49: 10.13 km in Lake Powell, Wahweap, State of Utah
Day 25 (August 13th), Swim 50: 10.38 km in Lake Powell, State of Arizona

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