Josef Köberl swims around Manhattan in 8:19 hours
Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Austrian extreme swimmer Josef Köberl completed a 45.9-kilometer swim around Manhattan in 8 hours and 19 minutes.
- Köberl battled wind and waves during the "20 Bridges Swim" and aims for future challenges like the "Escape from Alcatraz" swim.
Austrian extreme swimmer Josef Köberl has successfully completed the challenging "20 Bridges Swim," circumnavigating Manhattan Island. The endurance athlete covered approximately 45.9 kilometers in a remarkable 8 hours and 19 minutes, finishing back at Pier A in Battery Park.
Despite describing the conditions as less than ideal, with both air and water temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius, Köberl persevered. He noted that he prefers colder conditions for his extreme swims. The swim, which took place on a Tuesday, saw him navigate the waters surrounding the island, facing wind and waves that added to the difficulty.
Upon completing the arduous journey, Köberl marked the "20 Bridges Swim" as another accomplishment checked off his list. He received a medal and a finisher's T-shirt, celebrating his achievement. This swim is part of his larger goal to conquer the "Ocean's Seven" challenge.
Looking ahead, Köberl has set his sights on the "Escape from Alcatraz" swim, another notoriously difficult open-water event. Following that, he plans to tackle the fifth and sixth swims in the "Ocean's Seven" series, demonstrating his continued dedication to pushing the boundaries of human endurance in extreme aquatic environments.
Those were not my conditions, I like it significantly colder.
Originally published by Der Standard in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.