<div><strong>Als erster Österreicher die Ocean’s Seven schaffen!</strong>
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<div>Hallo, mein Name ist Josef Köberl.
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<div>Ich stamme aus dem wunderschönen Ausseerland und lebe heute in Wien. Meine große Leidenschaft ist das Extremschwimmen – und ich habe ein Ziel, das bislang noch kein Österreicher erreicht hat:
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<div><strong>Die Ocean’s Seven zu durchschwimmen.</strong>
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<div>Die Ocean’s Seven sind mit den Seven Summits im Bergsteigen vergleichbar. Sie umfassen die sieben berühmtesten und härtesten Meerengen der Welt – eisiges Wasser, starke Strömungen, hohe Wellen, Haie, Quallen und mentale Grenzerfahrungen inklusive.
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<div>Einige dieser legendären Strecken durfte ich bereits erfolgreich bewältigen:
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<div><strong>2015: Ärmelkanal (42 km) als zweiter Österreicher</strong>
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<div><strong>2023: Straße von Gibraltar (15 km)</strong>
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<div><strong>2025: Cook-Straße in Neuseeland (32 km) als erster Österreicher</strong>
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<div><strong>2025: Nordkanal zwischen Irland und Schottland (42 km) als erster Österreicher</strong>
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<div>Mein nächstes großes Abenteuer steht bereits unmittelbar bevor:
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<div><strong>Catalina Channel – Kalifornien</strong>
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<div>Vom <strong>13. auf 14. August</strong> werde ich den Catalina Channel südlich von Los Angeles durchschwimmen. Die Strecke beträgt rund 32 Kilometer – bei Dunkelheit, unberechenbaren Strömungen und diversen Meeresbewohnern.
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<div>Doch damit nicht genug.
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<div>Nur zwei Wochen später bekomme ich die Möglichkeit, die berüchtigte <strong>Tsugaru-Straße in Japan</strong> zu schwimmen.
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<div>Sehr kurze Erholungszeit, doch ich habe Profis an meiner Seite, die mein Training und meine Erholung überwachen.
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<div>Das Zeitfenster zur Querung öffnet sich am 30.08. und schließt sich wieder am 03.09.2026!
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<div>Der Kanal ist offiziell nur 18 Kilometer breit – doch genau dort treffen die Japanische See und der Pazifik aufeinander. Unterschiedliche Temperaturen erzeugen extreme Strömungen und hohe Wellen. Aus 18 Kilometern können schnell über 40 bis 50 Kilometer werden.
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<div><strong>Die See dort gilt als besonders rau und unberechenbar</strong>. Die Artenvielfalt im Meer ist atemberaubend - Haie, riesige Kracken und Quallen.....
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<div>Ich werde die gesamte Strecke mit einem Live-Tracker schwimmen – du kannst mich also in Echtzeit verfolgen.
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<div><strong>Achtung: Das ist nichts für schwache Nerven!</strong>
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<div>Mit der Tsugaru-Straße würde ich bereits die <strong>Nummer 6 der Ocean’s Seven</strong> absolvieren.
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<div>Was danach noch fehlt?
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<div>Der legendäre <strong>Kai’wi Channel auf Hawaii</strong> – 44km bei 26 Grad Wassertemperatur und hoher Luftfeuchtigkeit. Dieses große Finale ist für 2027 geplant.
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<div><strong><em>Warum ich Unterstützung brauche?</em></strong>
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<div>Solche Expeditionen sind mit enormen Kosten verbunden:
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<div>Begleitboote, Sicherheitscrews, Genehmigungen, Reisen, Unterkunft, Dolmetscher und Ausrüstung müssen privat finanziert werden.
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<div>Mit deiner Unterstützung hilfst du mir dabei, Österreich auf der internationalen Freiwasserbühne zu vertreten und meinem Traum näherzukommen.
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<div>Jeder Beitrag – egal wie klein – bringt mich einen Kilometer näher ans Ziel.
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<div>Vielen Dank für deine Unterstützung, deinen Glauben an mich und dafür, Teil dieser Reise zu sein!
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<div>English:
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<div><strong>Josef Köberl – Austria’s Journey to the Ocean’s Seven</strong>
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<div>From non-swimmer to Ocean’s Seven – help me become the first Austrian to complete one of the greatest challenges in open water swimming.
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<div>Hello, my name is Josef Köberl.
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<div>I come from Austria and my greatest passion is extreme open water swimming.
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<div>My goal is to become the first Austrian to complete the legendary Ocean’s Seven challenge – often referred to as the “Mount Everest of open water swimming.”
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<div>The Ocean’s Seven consists of the seven most difficult channel swims in the world. Ice-cold water, powerful currents, rough seas, marine life, sleep deprivation and mental endurance are all part of the challenge.
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<div>Over the past years, I have successfully completed:
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<div><strong>• English Channel (2015) – 42 km – Second Austrian ever to complete the crossing</strong>
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<div><strong>• Strait of Gibraltar (2023) – 15 km</strong>
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<div><strong>• Cook Strait, New Zealand (2025) – 32 km – First Austrian ever</strong>
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<div><strong>• North Channel, Ireland to Scotland (2025) – 42 km – First Austrian ever</strong>
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<div><strong>My next adventure is already approaching:</strong>
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<div><strong>Catalina Channel – California</strong>
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<div>On August 13–14, 2026, I will attempt to swim the Catalina Channel south of Los Angeles.
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<div>The crossing covers approximately 32 kilometers through darkness, unpredictable currents and an environment shared with a wide variety of marine life.
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<div>But the challenge does not stop there.
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<div><strong>Only two weeks later, I have been offered a rare opportunity to attempt the Tsugaru Strait in Japan.</strong>
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<div>The official crossing distance is only 18 kilometers. However, where the Sea of Japan meets the Pacific Ocean, powerful currents and changing water temperatures can turn an 18-kilometer swim into 40 or even 50 kilometers.
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<div>The Tsugaru Strait is known as one of the most demanding and unpredictable channel swims in the world.
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<div>If successful, it would become my sixth completed Ocean’s Seven swim.
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<div>The Final Challenge after Tsugaru, only one crossing would remain:
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<div><strong>The legendary Kaiwi Channel in Hawaii.</strong>
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<div>A 44-kilometer crossing through warm tropical waters, strong currents, high humidity and one of the most challenging open water environments on Earth.
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<div>My goal is to complete this final Ocean’s Seven swim in 2027.
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<div><strong>Why I Need Your Support</strong>
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<div>These expeditions require significant personal funding.
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<div>Boat pilots, safety crews, permits, travel expenses, accommodation, logistics, equipment and local support teams all need to be financed privately.
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<div>By supporting this project, you are helping me represent Austria on the international open water swimming stage and move one step closer to completing one of the world's greatest endurance challenges - the Ocean´s Seven!.
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<div>Every contribution, no matter the size, brings me one kilometer closer to my goal.
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<div>During my swims, you will be able to follow my progress live via GPS tracker and become part of this journey in real time.
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<div>Thank you for your support, your trust and for being part of this adventure.
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<div>Josef Köberl
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<div>Austria
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<div>On the Road to the Ocean’s Seven
</div>

Thomas Stangl

Anonymous

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