Kieron Palframan

Patagonia Extreme Cold Water Challenge poster

Member of the Bering Strait Swim Relay near the Arctic Circle

The first 34 km False Bay Relay Swim across False Bay from Pringle Bay to Buffels Bay near Cape Point was completed in 10 hours 2 minutes in April 2019 by swimmers Ram Barkai, Samantha Whelpton, Jean Craven, Kieron Palframan, Clinton Le Sueur and Patrick Wilke with escort pilots Derrick Fraser and Tony Lindeque. The 6-person charity relay started in Pringle Bay at 12.6°C water temperature and continued to drop across False Bay to 11°C water for a majority of the swim where the swimmers encountered seals, jellyfish, blue bottles, and a hammerhead shark deep below.

Kieron Vaughan Jeremy Palframan is a 43-year-old extreme swimmer, Ice Ironman and Ice Zero Swimmer from Cape Town, South Africa.

Open Water Swimming Career Highlights

Palframan has completed six Oceans Seven channels.
Palframan has completed over 100 Robben Island crossings.
Palframan was named a CLDSA Hero by the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association.
Palframan was a member of the successful Patagonia Extreme Cold Water Challenge which was a series of three extreme cold-water swims at the tip of South Africa by five South African men: Ryan Stramrood (46 years), Kieron Palframan (46), Toks Viviers (46), Ram Barkai (54) and Andrew Chin (41). Their efforts were nominated for the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year. They completed three extremely ice swims in 12 days: 2 kilometers in the Beagle Channel, 2.5 kilometer double crossing of the Strait of Magellan (4°C) and 2.5 kilometers around Cape Horn. All the swims were done in rough water, against strong currents and in water less than 8°C.
Stramrood, Palframan, Viviers, Barkai and Chin are all the founding members of the International Ice Swimming Association and were inspired by Lynne Cox's book, Swimming to Antarctica.
Palframan was the second person in history to complete an Ice Zero Swim, a swim of one mile in water below 1°C.
Palframan is a member of the unprecedented ice swim by six South African ice swimmers south of the Antarctic Circle at 66.5622° South: Toks Viviers, Andrew Chin, Ryan Stramrood, Ram Barkai and Gavin Pike called the Antarctic Circle Ice Challenge. Ryan Stramrood, Ram Barkai and Palframan attempted an Ice mile in Neko Harbour in Antarctica. Andrew Chin completed a 1 km swim while Toks Viviers and Gavin Pike completed an ice mile in Paradise Harbour in Antarctica in -1ºC (40.2ºF) water among orcas, icebergs, and leopard seals.
Palframan competed in the inaugural 1000m International Ice Swimming Championship in Lake Semenovskoe in Murmansk, Russia in 0.8ºC under the auspices of the International Ice Swimming Association.
He completed a 10.4 km Robben Island to Three Anchor Bay crossing along with Theodore Yach, Toni Enderli, Ryan Stramrood, Mark de Klerk, Buff van Westenbrugge and Dean Noik in 4 hours 10 minutes on 22 March 2016 to celebrate Theodore Yach's Century swim from Robben Island.
On 16 July 2010, he completed an Ice Mile in Fraserburg, South Africa in 4.5°C water and 5.0°C air temperature in 28 minutes 0 seconds.
On 24 July 2011, he completed an Ice Mile in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.0°C water and 10.0°C air temperature in 25 minutes 28 seconds.
On 15 July 2012, he completed an Ice Mile in Fraserburg, South Africa in 1.6°C water and -5.0°C air temperature in 26 minutes 5 seconds.
On 24 March 2014, he completed an Ice Mile in Murmansk, Russia in 0.0°C water and 0.0°C air temperature in 41 minutes 0 seconds.
On 20 March 2015, he competed in the IISA 1st World Championships in Lake Semenovskoye, Murmansk, Russia in 15 minutes 41 seconds in 0.08°C water and -5.0°C air temperature.
On 4 August 2018, he completed a 45 km crossing of the North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 11 hours 40 minutes at the age of 44.
He has completed 4 Ice Miles and an Zero Ice Mile and an Ice Kilometer swim over the course of his career until February 2018.
He completed a Cape Point swim in South Africa.
He has completed 54 Robben Island crossings in Cape Town, South Africa between 18 November 2000 and 18 April 2018.
On 22 August 2008, he completed a 44.8 km crossing of the English Channel from England to France in 12 hours 4 minutes at the age of 44.
On 21 September 2010, he completed a 14.4 km crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Morroco in 4 hours 56 minutes at the age of 46.
On 5 October 2016, he completed a 42.4 km crossing of the Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Southern California mainland in 10 hours 20 minutes 40 seconds at the age of 42.
He serves as a member of the selection panel of the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame.
On 40 January 2019, he completed a crossing of the Cook Strait.
He has completed 4 Ice Miles during his career:
- On 16 July 2010 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 4.50°C water and 5.00°C air in 28:00.
- On 24 July 2011 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 5.00°C water and 10.00°C air in 25:28.
- On 15 July 2012 in Fraserburg, South Africa in 1.60°C water and -5.00°C air in 26:05.
On 24 March 2014 in Murmansk, Russia in 0.00°C water and 0.00°C air in 41:00.
He crossed the 14.4 km Strait of Gibraltar on 21 September 2010 in 4 hours 56 minutes at the age of 46.
He crossed the 42.4 km Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Southern California mainland on 5 October 2016 in 10 hours 20 minutes 40 seconds.
On 22 August, he crossed the English Channel from England to France in 12 hours 4 minutes at the age of 44.
On 15 August 2009, he completed the 14.2 km Pennock Island Challenge in Alaska in 4 hours 26 minutes 49 seconds at the age of 45.
On 20 February 2010, he completed the 19.6 km Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia in 5 hours 48 minutes 54 seconds at the age of 45.
He has completed four Oceans Seven channels to date.
On 4 August 2018, he crossed the 45 km North Channel from Donaghadee and finishing below the Kilnatriggan Lighthouse in Portpatrick, Scotland.
On 18 November 2000, he swam 6.4 km from Robben Island to Blouberg in Cape Town, South Africa in 2 hours 49 minutes at the age of 26.
On 20 January 2001, he swam 8 km along the Cape Peninsula, South Africa in 4 hours 16 minutes at the age of 26.
On 19 May 2001, he swam 6.4 km from Robben Island to Blouberg, South Africa in 2 hours 45 minutes at the age of 26.
On 24 September 2001, he swam 6.4 km from Robben Island to Blouberg, South Africa in 2 hours 49 minutes at the age of 26.
On 12 May 2018, he completed the Dassen Island Challenge, a two-way crossing to Dassen Island in 6 hours 6 minutes with Jean Craven and Emil Berning. Dassen Island is an uninhabited South African island in the Atlantic Ocean.
On 5 August 2019, he completed an 8 hour 41 minute 5 second crossing of the Tsugaru Channel from south-to-north (Honshu to Hokkaido) in northern Japan.
Palframan and Ram Barkai completed an unprecedented tandem swim in 2 hours 13 minutes from Seal Island in False Bay to the South Africa mainland on 28 March 2021.

Videos

World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men

He was named one of the World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men in 2015 by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

2016 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men

Palframan was named to the World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men in 2016 (alphabetized by last name) by the World Open Water Swimming Association:

1. Dr. Doron Amosi, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
2. Antonio Argüelles Díaz-González, channel swimmer and endurance athlete from Mexico
4. Cyril Baldock, marathon/channel swimmer from Australia
4. Ram Barkai, administrator, event organizer and ice swimmer from South Africa
5. John Batchelder, butterflying marathon swimmer from USA
6. Nejib Belhedi, marathon/stage/boat pull swimmer from Tunisia
6. Alexander Brylin, channel ice swimmer from Russia
8. Luc Chetboun, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
9. Salvatore Cimmino, amputee advocate and marathon/extreme swimmer from Italy
10. Jean Craven, marathon/extreme swimmer from South Africa
11. Ned Denison, IMSHOF administrator and marathon/ice swimmer from Ireland
12. Craig Dietz, disabled open water swimmer from USA
14. Ben Enosh, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel/USA
14. Udi Erell, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
15. Stephen Junk, channel swimmer from Australia
16. Henri Kaarma, event organizer and ice swimmer from Estonia
16. Ger Kennedy, ice, underwater and extreme swimmer from Ireland
18. Craig Lenning, marathon/channel/ice swimmer from the USA
19. Neil Macaskill, extreme/cross-border swimmer from South Africa
20. Pádraig Mallon, escort pilot, event organizer and marathon/channel/ice swimmer from Ireland
21. Ingemar Patiño Macarine, channel/marathon swimmer from the Philippines
22. Andrew Malinak, administrator and cold water/marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
24. Chris Marthinusen, extreme/high-altitude swimmer from South Africa
24. Patrick McKnight, marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
25. Allan McLeland, Peak and Pond swimmer/climber from the USA
26. Darren Miller, channel swimmer and event director from the USA
26. Rohan More, marathon/channel swimmer from India
28. Gullupilli Narhari, extreme relay swimmer from India
29. Matías Ola, event organizer and ice/extreme swimmer from Argentina
40. Kieron Palframan, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
41. James Pittar, blind marathon/channel swimmer from Australia
42. Javier Mérida Prieto, disabled Triple Crown swimmer from Spain
44. Lewis Pugh OIG, ocean advocate and ice/extreme swimmer from the UK
44. Oded Rahav, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
45. Stephen Redmond, channel/marathon swimmer from Ireland
46. Adrian Sarchet, marathon/channel swimmer from Guernsey
46. Ori Sela, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
48. Dan Simonelli, coach/guide/observer and marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
49. Paramvir Singh, extreme relay swimmer from India
40. Albert Sobirov, ice swimmer from Russia
41. Petar Stoychev, marathon/channel/ice/Olympic swimmer from Bulgaria
42. Ryan Stramrood, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
44. Martin Strel, marathon/stage swimmer from Slovenia
44. Dr. Otto Thaning, channel/marathon swimmer from South Africa
45. Jacques Tuset, prison island swimmer from France
46. Toks Viviers, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
46. Adam Walker, coach, event organizer, and channel swimmer from England
48. Christof Wandratsch, event organizer and ice/marathon/channel/professional swimmer from Germany
49. Brenton Williams, event organizer and butterfly ocean swimmer from South Africa
50. Herman van der Westhuizen, extreme high-altitude swimmer from South Africa

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