Conquering Land and Sea: Rob Lea Becomes First to Achieve "Double Seven" with Historic Tsugaru Strait Swim
On June 30, 2026, 45-year-old American mountaineer and long-distance swimmer Rob Lea successfully crossed the Tsugaru Strait, swimming approximately 40 kilometers from Gongenzaki in Nakadomari, Aomori Prefecture, to the coast of Fukushima in Hokkaido. Clocking in at 11 hours, 43 minutes, and 35 seconds, this monumental feat marked the completion of his "Oceans Seven" challenge—swimming the world’s seven toughest channels. Combined with his previous conquest of the "Seven Summits" (the highest peaks on all seven continents), Lea has made history as the first person in the world to achieve the "Double Seven," conquering the absolute pinnacle of both land and sea. Conquering the Treacherous Tsugaru Strait The Tsugaru Strait is notorious for its fierce, unpredictable currents and bone-chilling water temperatures, even during the summer months. As one of the prestigious Oceans Seven, it is feared and revered by open-water swimmers worldwide. Because of the stro...