Stephen Junk will make his attempt of his fifth and sixth Oceans Seven channels this summer. Tonight in Hawaii, his kayaker Steve Haumschild will lead him off Kalua Koi on Molokai Island for a 26-mile attempt of the Molokai Channel starting around sunset.
Junk has crossed the English Channel (2003 in 11 hours 40 minutes), Strait of Gibraltar (2005 in 4 hours 1 minutes), Catalina Channel (2008 in 10 hours 29 minutes), and Cook Strait (2010 in 8 hours 8 minutes). Additionally, he has completed the 20 km Lake Argyle Classic (2007 in 6 hours 4 minutes), Ederle Swim (2007 in 5 hours 55 minutes), 14 single-crossings and 1 double-crossing of the Rottnest Channel, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (2008 in 7 hours 48 minutes and 2010 in 8 hours 8 minutes), and the 120 km Taupo x 3 relay.
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 KAATSU Research Institute. 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), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.