Prabhat Koli Achieves The Oceans Seven, The Youngest In History

Prabhat Koli from Mumbai, India has acccomplished all kinds of achievements in the open water swimming world during his young career. With his latest crossing of the Cook Strait, Koli became the 22nd person to complete the Oceans Seven.

Escorted by Donald Dring, observed by Brett Richardson, crewed by Chief Omar Vaquero, and navigated by Corey Fairbairn on March 1st 2023, Koli crossed the Cook Strait from the South Island to the North Island in 8 hours 41 minutes and 5 seconds.

Born on July 27th 1999, Koli is the youngest person in history to complete the Oceans Seven at 23 years 7 months and 2 days.

His road to success is a long time coming and is due to a constant focus and dedication to his craft. He is the youngest male to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming and was awarded the prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award in 2018 [shown below]. In addition to his Oceans Seven channels, he has completed the 81 km India National Open Water Swimming Competition in Bhagirathi River in West Bengal, 59 km Round Jersey circumnavigation swim, 7.4 km Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa, 8 km around Cape of Good Hope, 15.2 km crossing of the Bodenseequerung from Germany to Switzerland, a 34 km crossing of Lake Tahoe in California, and an initial failed attempt of the Cook Strait in 2020 where his coach Sally Minty-Gravett aborted the swim just short of his goal after 8 hours 24 minutes.

Koli told the Indian Weekender, "I cannot put my feelings in words after becoming the youngest person in the world to complete the Oceans Seven. The sentiment is still sinking in. The weather at the start was wonderful, but after 3-4 hours in the strait, the wind was going across at 30 knots, and the waves were tossing me around. But somehow, after 8 hours and 41 minutes, all the hardships were forgotten when I managed to finish on the rocks. All I remember is smiling and posing with our Indian flag.

For me, the biggest thing is that I have made India proud and that feeling can’t be put into words. I feel humbled and inspired to do more for my country. When I started swimming, I never dreamt that I would be able to complete Oceans Seven. I want to thank everyone who has supported me in this journey, whether my family, coaches, team or well-wishers. Without their support and love, this dream could have never been a reality.

I want to encourage as many people as possible to take up swimming as I know we can do so much for our country in the field of swimming. I keep telling my students that they should even break my record and go on to shine, and that will make me so proud.”

Prabhat Koli and his Japanese escort crew after completing the Tsugaru Channel in Japan:
Oceans Seven Channels:
2015: 33.5 km across the English Channel in 13 hours 14 minutes at the age of 16
2016: 32.3 km across the Catalina Channel in 10 hours 30 minutes at the age of 17
2017: 42 km across the Molokai Channel in Hawaii 17 hours 22 minutes at the age of 17
2017: 19.5 km across the Tsugaru Channel in Japan in 9 hours 52 minutes at the age of 18
2018: 35 km across the North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 10 hours 41 minutes at the age of 19
2019: 14.4 across the Strait of Gbraltar from Spain to Morocco in 4 hours 25 minutes at the age of 20
2023: 23 km across the Cook Strait from South Island to North Island in 8 hours 41 minutes at the age of 23

To date, 22 humans in history have completed the Oceans Seven:
1. Stephen Redmond (Ireland)
2. Anna Carin Nordin (Sweden)
3. Michelle Macy (USA)
4. Darren Miller (USA)
5. Adam Walker (UK)
6. Kimberley Chambers (New Zealand)
7. Antonio Argüelles (Mexico)
8. Ion Lazarenco Tiron (Moldavia and Ireland)
9. Rohan Dattatrey More (India)
10. Abhejali Bernardová (Czech Republic)
11. Cameron Bellamy (South Africa)
12. Lynton Mortensen (Australia)
13. Thomas Pembroke (Australia)
14. Nora Toledano Cadena (Mexico)
15. Mariel Hawley Dávila (Mexico)
16. André Wiersig (Germany)
17. Elizabeth Fry (USA)
18. Attila Mányoki (Hungary)
19. Jonathan Ratcliffe (UK)
20. Jorge Crivilles Villanueva (Spain)
21. Adrian Sarchet (Guernsey)
22. Prabhat Koli (India)

By Steven Munatones.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and Editor of the KAATSU Magazine. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), Dale Petranech Award for Services to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (2022), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007 and 2010), and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984, awarded to the senior whose interests are not bounded by academic or institutional structures. A joyous, deeply-rooted affirmation of life, disdain for the purely conventional; a love of adventure, and desire to learn by experiencing; the ability to respond creatively to difficult situations). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee (until 2011) and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, a 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff including 4 FINA World Championships, and 2008 NBC Olympic 10K Marathon Swim commentator.

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