#OPEN SEA SWIMMING - An Irishman has become the first ever person to complete the open sea swimming equivalent of climbing the seven highest peaks, as The Irish Times reports.
Steve Redmond from West Cork completed the final leg of the Oceans7 Challenge when he crossed Japan's Tsugaru Strait with a time of 14 hours 24 minutes on Saturday.
According to the Irish Independent, the 47-year-old father of two - and nominee as World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year in 2011 - began his challenge back in 2009 by swimming across the English Channel.
That feat was followed by crossings of the North Channel between Scotland and Northern Ireland, the Strait of Gibraltar, the San Pedro Channel south of Los Angeles, the Moloka'i Channel in Hawaii, and the Cook Strait between New Zealand's north and south islands.
Aside from braving dangerous currents and the treat of sharks and stinging jellyfish, Redmond had to fend off a number of other challengers for the coveted title - including Australian marathon swimmer Penny Palfrey, who was just one crossing away from the record.
Redmond's now set to return to a hero's welcome in his hometown of Ballydehob this evening.
