Brian Foster

17-year-old Brian Foster after his three-way crossing of Fastnet in Ireland

Brian Foster after his 24 hour 50 minute two-way crossing of the North Channel on the boat of Pádraig Mallon

Owen O'Keefe, Brian Foster, Steve Foster at Sandycove Island in Ireland on 3 October 2021

Brian Foster is a 17-year-old open water swimmer from Kinsale, Ireland.

Open Water Swimming Highlights

On 6 September 2023, he completed a 32.2 km crossing of the Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula on the Southern California coast in 11 hours 3 minutes at the age of 15.
On 3 October 2021, he completed his 100th lap around Sandycove Island to earn an official Sandycove Island yellow cap at the age of 13.
He completed a 10 km marathon swim at the Best Fest in Mallorca, Spain in 3 hours 44 seconds at the age of 14. But the seed was planted by the American icon – a double crossing of the North Channel could be done.
He completed a 33.5 km crossing of the English Channel from England to France in 10 hours 37 minutes at the age of 16.
He completed a 70 km two-way crossing of the North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland in 24 hour 50 minute 13 seconds on 16 September 2024 to join the 24-Hour Club at the age of 16, piloted by Pádraig Mallon of the Infinity Channel Swimming and Piloting Services.
On 12 August 2025, he completed the first 57.6 km three-way crossing of Fastnet in Ireland in history with a 15 hour 48 minute 36 second crossing at the age of 17.
On 11 October 2025, he completed a two-way crossing of Galway Bay in 6 hours 29 minutes to complete the first double Irish Triple Crown in history at the age of 17.

Brian Foster (Ireland) for an unprecedented three-way 61.5 km Baltimore-Fastnet-Baltimore crossing in 15 hours 48 minutes in August, ratified by ILDSA
Karina Garcia (USA) for a 44.3 km course record from Santa Rosa Island to California mainland crossing in 14 hours 5 minutes in September, ratified by SBCSA
Victor Pineiro (Argentina) for an unprecedented 56.3 km Isle of Man to Ireland crossing in 26 hours 48 minutes in August 2025, ratified by ILDSA
Andreas Waschburger (Germany) for a 34.5 km North Channel course record from Ireland to Scotland in 8 hours 11 minutes in September, ratified by ILDSA
Kaname Woodfield (Japan) for a 26.8 km Green Island to Cairns, Australia crossing in 10 hours 55 minutes in August 2025, ratified by MSF

Interview with International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame chairperson Ned Denison about Foster's two-way crossing of North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland.