Longest distance swimming non-stop (individual, open water)

Age Restriction: Applications for this record title will only be accepted if the applicant is 16 years of age or over.

The longest non-stop open-water swim by an individual is 504.5 km (313.17 miles) by Martin Strel (Slovenia), who swam the Danube from Melk (Austria) to Paks (Hungary) in 84 hr 10 min on 3-6 July 2001. Martin first matched the record set by Argentinian Ricardo Hoffman on the Parana river in 1981 (481,5 km, 84 hr 37 min), then exceed it, finishing at 504.5 km. Martin was escorted by four kayakers working day and night shifts, a safety escort boat with two pilots on board, and six vehicles on the road. The entire crew included kayakers, pilots, journalists, a physician, Internet support staff, time keepers from Timing Ljubljana, and swimming judge Frantisek Richter. Martin stopped a few times on shore along the river to feed himself, undergo a medical check-up, and giving short interviews to the media. Martin swam according to the standard open water swimming rules without boat or escort contact under supervision of the observer. He wore a neoprene wetsuit because the water was too cold for such an extended period of time in the water." The event was televised by Slovenian and Hungarian national television stations.