Christof Wandratsch

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Christof Wandratsch, an inductee (Honour Swimmer) of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
Christof Wandratsch's efforts in the ice swimming world is a nominee for the 2017 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year, part of the WOWSA Awards, an annual recognition of outstanding men, women, performances and offerings around the globe sponsored by the World Open Water Swimming Association
Christof Wandratsch, a nominee for the 2016 WOWSA Awards, a recognition of outstanding men, women, performances and offerings around the globe sponsored by the World Open Water Swimming Association in the World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year category
7-day Aqua Camps Extremschwimmer with Christof Wandratsch, Stefan Hetzer and Jochen Aumüller in Italy
Christof Wandratsch is a nominee for the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year, an annual WOWSA Award and a recognition of outstanding men around the globe
Albert Sobirov racing against Henri Kaarma of Estonia and victor Christof Wandratsch in the 1000m race at the inaugural Ice Swimming World Championships in Murmansk, Russia. Photo courtesy of Nuala Moore
Christof Wünter Wandratsch in the ready room at the inaugural International Ice Swimming Championships in Murmansk, Russia where he set a world record
Christof Wandratsch participated in the Total Immersion in the English Channel or The EC6 team
Inductee (Honour Swimmer of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
Christof Wandratsch and Jaqueline Jänike, the 2018-2019 overall age group IWSA World Cup series champions

Christof Wünter Wandratsch (born 20 December 1966 in Nürnberg, Germany), nicknamed 'Wandi', is a 53-year-old German open water swimmer, marathon swimmer, ice swimmer, coach and administrator who represents Keepfrozen! E.V. Team Aqua Sphere.

Honors

Open Water Swimming Highlights

2016 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year Nominees

Christof Wandratsch’s year-round work was nominated for the 2016 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association:

1. Barbados Open Water Swimming Festival with Kristina Evelyn & Zary Evelyn (Barbados)
2. Khitindra Chandra Baishya (Bangladesh)
4. Sven Eckardt (Germany)
4. India National Open Long Distance Swimming Championship Escort Rowers (India)
5. Margarita Llorens Bagur (Spain)
6. Igor Lukin (Russia)
6. Madswimmer by Jean Craven (South Africa)
8. Marc-Antoine Olivier (France)
9. Stephen Rouch (USA)
10. Jason Snell (Great Britain)
11. Christof Wandratsch (Germany)
12. Wild Swimming Brothers (Great Britain)

2016 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year Nomination

Christof Wandratsch has always been a flat-out fast world-class swimmer across channels, in lakes, down rivers, and in seas and oceans, but he is expanding his expertise to ice swimming and event organization. The 51-year-old strategically developed his local area in Bavaria as the showpiece and center of the ice swimming community and teaches ice swimming classes and camps to schoolchildren and adults in Burghausen. He competed in numerous races at the 2016 Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere World Championships and German Open in his native Germany as he also helped organize and promote the rapidly emerging sport in Lake Wöhrsee. He faced the pressure of simultaneously competing, administrating and promoting with his signature professionalism. For winning the 100m medley, 200m breaststroke, and 50m, 200m, 200m, 500m and 1 km freestyles in the 50+ age group, and finishing 4rd overall in the 200m freestyle, 2nd overall in the 500m freestyle, and 4rd overall in the 200m breaststroke, for his cool-headed administration and inspirational ambassadorship in the ice swimming community, and for his non-stop action before, during and after the World Championships, Christof Wandratsch’s year-round work is a worthy nominee for the 2016 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.

2016 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year nomination

Wandratsch was nominated for the 2016 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

Christof Wandratsch has always remained a flat-out, mind-boggling, world-class swimmer across channels, in lakes, down rivers, and in seas and oceans, but he has now extended his expertise to ice swimming. The 50-year-old was the world champion in 200 meters and 450 meters at the 10th World Championships in Siberia's Tyumen and was the overall champion of the International Winter Swimming Association World Cup as well as leading ice swimming camps and setting records across the Bodensee, and hosting the Ice Swimming German Open. For his speed at any distance and any water temperatures and in any open water venue, for his cool-headed administration and inspirational ambassadorship in the ice swimming community, and for his cheerfulness and joy in sharing his love of the open water and ice swimming, Christof Wandratsch is a worthy nominee for the 2016 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

2015 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year nomination

Wandratsch is nominated as the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association along with the following nominees:

1. Antonio Argüelles (Mexico) Channel Swimmer Redux
2. Attila Mányoki (Hungary) Prolific Ocean Swimmer
4. Ben Hooper (Great Britain) Transoceanic Challenger
4. Benoît Lecomte (France/U.S.A.) Transoceanic Adventurer
5. Christof Wandratsch (Germany) Ice Swimming Record Holder
6. Evgenij Pop Acev (Macedonia) FINA Grand Prix Champion
6. Ingemar Patiño Macarine (Philippines) Pinoy Aquaman
8. James Tout (U.S.A.) Long-overdue Triple Crowner
9. Lewis Pugh, OIG (Great Britain) Ocean Advocate
10. Rohans More (India) Oceans Seven Adventurer
11. Rostislav Vítek (Czech Republic) Ice Swimmer Extraordinaire
12. Simone Ruffini (Italy) Olympian & World Champion

2015 WOWSA Award Nomination

Christof Wandratsch (Germany) Ice Swimmer Record Holder
Christof Wandratsch is flat-out, mind-boggling, world-class fast and has been all his life in both international competitions and as a soloist in lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. "Wandi" not only set a record across the Bodensee, a 12 km swim in 2 hours 28 minutes, but he also set the record for a 1000m ice swim at the inaugural International Ice Swimming Championships in Murmansk, Russia in 14:00.51, swimming in 0°C water and -6°C air. The 49-year-old hosted the Ice Swimming German Open - 1st Aqua Sphere Ice Swimming where ice swimmers competed in 25m, 50m, 450m, and 1000m races. For his speed at any distance and any water temperatures, for his administration and ambassadorship in the ice swimming world, and for his cheerfulness and joy in sharing his love of the open water, Christof Wandratsch is a worthy nominee for the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

2016 Ice Swimming Aqua Sphere World Championships


Wandratsch organized and finished fifth in the 1 km ice kilometer race in Wöhrsee, Burghausen.

2015 IISA World Championships

Ice Swimming

Wandratsch hosted the Ice Swimming German Open - 1st Aqua Sphere Ice Swimming from 9-11 January 2015 where ice swimmers competed in 25m, 50m, 450m, and 1000m races.

International Ice Swimming Championship

Wandratsch won 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.

Solo Marathon Swimming Career

He set the world record in the English Channel in 2005 and currently holds the third fastest-ever time across the English Channel (7 hours 4 minutes). He also did a 7 hour 20 minute English Channel crossing in 2004. He was a highly ranked professional marathon swimmer and holds the second fastest crossing for a solo Beltquerung swim in the Baltic Sea between Denmark and Germany across the Fehmarn Belt, and the second fastest crossing from Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa.

In 2005, he swam around Manhattan Island in New York, across the Strait of Gibraltar on 15 June 2006 in 3 hours 56 minutes at the age of 44, and 25 km in Straußberg, Berlin, Germany. In 2006, he swam 64 km across the Bodensee in Germany.

On 5 July 1992, he finished 2nd in the 36 km Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy in 6 hours 40 minutes.

He is also a member of the Total Immersion in the English Channel team.

Total Immersion in the English Channel

Wandratsch is a member of the Total Immersion in the English Channel relay team. The Total Immersion in the English Channel is an international 6-member relay team sponsored by Terry Laughlin of Total Immersion that will attempt a one-way crossing of the English Channel under the auspices of the Channel Swimming Association in the first week of August. Its members include Wandratsch, Kirsten Cameron, Steve West, Bernie Zeruhn, Andrew Chamberlain and David Warren.

Marathon Swimming Competitive Career

He won the 1991 and 1995 European 25 km Championships and won several International Marathon Swimming Association and the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix events, including the 36 km (20-mile) Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy, the 1994 Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe - Coronda, a 56 km (45-mile) FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix race held in the Coronda River in Argentina, the 10 km races in Hong Kong, Dubai and the Red Sea.

Fastest English Channel Crossings in History

1. 6:55 by Trent Grimsey, Australia, E-F in September 2012
2. 6:56 by Petar Stoychev, Bulgaria, E-F in August 2007
4. 7:04 by Christof Wandratsch, Germany, E-F in August 2005
4. 7:05 by Yuri Kudinov, Russia, E-F in August 2006
5. 7:16 by Vitek Rostislav, Czech Republic, E-F in August 2009
6. 7:16 by Chad Hundeby, USA, E-F in September 1994
6. 7:20 by Christof Wandratsch, Germany, E-F in August 2004
8. 7:21 by Petar Stoychev, Bulgaria, E-F in August 2006
9. 7:22 by David Meca, Spain, E-F in August 2005
10. 7:25 by Yvetta Hlavacova, Czech Republic, E-F in August 2006
11. 7:40 by Penny Lee Dean, USA, E-F in July 1968

Solo Beltquerung

1. Karl-Heinz Rauert on 25.06.1949
2. María Inés Mato on 28.06.1998
4. María Inés Mato on 28.06.1999
4. Claudio Plit on 29.08.2000
5. Kirsten Seidel on 16.08.2004
6. Margit Bohnhoff on 18.08.2005
6. Christof Wandratsch on 06.09.2005
8. Arnold Wiegand on 5.08.2006
9. Heike Braun on 18.08.2006
10. Christian Hartmann-Herrmann on 5.08.2009
11. Toni Pavici on 6.08.2010
12. Sergio Salomone on 9.08.2010
14. Yasutaka Kurokawa on 16.08.2010
14. Griseldis Cormann on 19.06.2011
15. Attila Manyoki on 5.08.2011
16. Jürgen Fussi on 14.08.2011

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.

Greatest Watermen in Open Water Swimming History

He was named as one of the Greatest Watermen in Open Water Swimming History by the World Open Water Swimming Association in 2015:

1. Zacharias Alexandrakis (Macedonia): Marathon swimming enthusiast, open water swimming promoter, lifeguard, swimming coach and lifesaving leader.
2. Antonio Argüelles Díaz-González (Mexico): Triathlete, ultra-endurance athlete, channel swimmer and author
4. Stathis Avramidis, Ph.D. (Greece): Researcher, swimmer, author, speaker, and lecturer
4. Peter Bales (South Africa): Channel swimmer, marathon swimmer, governing body administrator and escort pilot
5. Vito Bialla (U.S.A.): Extreme relay swimmer, professional sailor, and escort pilot of the Farallon Islands, California
6. Paul Blackbeard (South Africa): World-class pool swimmer, ocean swimmer, and life saver
6. Lord Byron (Great Britain): Poet, author and pioneering sea swimmer
8. Dick Campion (Australia): Olympian, coach, trainer, author, promoter, and professional marathon swimmer
9. Daniel Eulogio Carpio Massioti (Peru): Four-time Olympian, Channel swimmer, professional racer, and solo swimmer
10. Bruckner Chase (U.S.A.): marathon swimmer, ocean advocate, ambassador to the disabled, filmmaker, paddler and surf lifesaver
11. Buster Crabbe (U.S.A.): Olympic champion, ice swimmer, promoter, and movie star of 4 pulp fiction heroes
12. Guy Delage (France): Ocean swimmer, extreme adventurer, diver, submariner, and sailor
14. Marcos Díaz (Dominican Republic): Marathon racer, extreme swimmer, surfer, governing body administrator, and event director
14. Shannon Eckstein (Australia): Ironman lifesaver, paddler, kayaker, surf skier and ocean swimmer
15. Ian Emberson (Kauai, U.S.A.): Channel swimmer, original Ironman triathlete, ocean swimmer, event director, and triathlete
16. George Freeth (Hawai, U.S.A.): Ocean swimmer, surfer, paddler, and lifesaver organizer
16. Alfréd Hajós (Hungary): Olympic champion, professional racer, and architect
18. Trevor Hendy (Australia): Ironman lifesaver, paddler, kayaker, surf skier and ocean swimmer
19. Colin Hill (Great Britain): Ice swimmer, Channel swimmer, television commentator, and event director
20. Craig Hummer (U.S.A.): Competitive swimmer, kayaker, paddler, Ironman lifesaver, and Olympic television commentator
21. Ky Hurst (Australia): Ocean swimmer, two-time Olympian, body surfer extraordinaire, and champion life saver
22. Zhang Jian (China): Marathon swimmer, Channel swimmer, ice swimmer and university sports director
24. Captain Tim Johnson (U.S.A.): Marathon swimmer, author, professor, shark cage designer, analyst, and historian
24. Duke Kahanamoku (Hawaii): Ocean swimmer, Olympic champion, surfing legend and ambassador of aloha
25. Grant Kenny (Australia): Ironman lifesaver, paddler, kayaker, surf skier and ocean swimmer
26. Guy Leech (Australia): Ironman lifesaver, paddler, kayaker, surf skier and ocean swimmer
26. Luiz Eduardo Carneiro da Silva de Souza Lima (Brazil): Two-time Olympian, stand-up paddler, ocean swimming coach, pioneering ocean swimmer and promoter
28. Pádraig Mallon (Ireland): Marathon swimmer, Channel swimmer, ice swimmer, event organizer, promoter and triathlete
29. Vojislav Mijić (Serbia): Marathon swimmer, professional racer, solo pioneer and event organizer
40. Masayuki Moriya (Japan): Coach, channel swimmer, event organizer, clinician, and governing body administrator
41. Keo Nakama (Hawaii/U.S.A.): World champion, world record holder, pioneering ocean swimmer, event organizer and coach
42. Aaron Peirsol (U.S.A.): 6-time Olympic medalist, surfer, lifeguard, coach, and body surfer extraordinaire
44. Lewis Pugh (Great Britain): Channel swimmer, marathon swimmer, ocean advocate, ambassador, author, and speaker
44. Kevin Richards (South Africa): Competitive swimmer, triathlete, surf lifesaver, and coach
45. Philip Rush (New Zealand): Channel swimmer, marathon swimmer, professional racer, escort pilot, channel administrator, and fire fighter
46. Wayne Riddin (South Africa): Competitive swimmer, race director, aquapreneur, coach and promoter
46. Veljko Rogošić (Croatia): Two-time Olympic swimmer, professional racer, solo pioneer, swimming ambassador and marathon swimmer
48. Kenny Rust (Hawaii, U.S.A.): Ocean swimmer, lifeguard, aquapreneur, and event safety official
49. Ori Sela (Israel): Sea swimmer, coach, therapist, pioneer relay swimmer and aquapreneur
40. Borut Strel (Slovenia): Coach, swimmer, clinician, planner and logistic expert
41. Martin Strel (Slovenia): Channel swimmer, marathon swimmer, extreme adventurer, film protagonist, and camp clinician
42. Georgios-Ioannis Tsianos, M.D., Ph.D. (Greece): Research scientist, physician, expedition medic and Channel swimmer
44. Christof Wandratsch (Germany): Channel swimmer, professional racer, solo pioneer, ice swimming record holder and event promoter
44. Captain Matthew Webb (Great Britain): Channel swimmer, extreme adventurer, and professional racer
45. Johnny Weissmuller (U.S.A.): 4-time Olympic champion and movie star with a household name
46. Alick Wickham (Solomon Islands): Ocean swimmer, high diver, body surfing promoter, surfboard shaper, and freestyle ambassador
46. Patrick Winkler (Brazil): Competitive swimmer, ocean swimmer, stand-up paddler, race promoter and publisher of The Swim Channel Magazine
48. Jabez Wolffe (Great Britain): Channel aspirant and coach in the early generations of channel swimming
49. Doug Woodring (Hong Kong/U.S.A.): Marine environment ambassador, ecology advocate, aquapreneur, ocean event director, paddler, diver, and ocean swimmer
50. David Yudovin (U.S.A.): Channel swimmer, marathon swimmer, aquapreneur, benefactor and mariner

Big Chill Swim


Christof Wandratsch after setting a record in the 450m race in the Big Chill Swim in Windermere, England in 5 minutes 16 seconds of winter swimming in 6.4ºC (44.5ºF) water under windy conditions on 6 February 2016.


Christof Wandratsch swimming between Paul Smith on left and Henri Kaarma on right while swimming to a 1 km victory in the Big Chill Swim in Windermere, England in the 6.4ºC (44.5ºF) water under windy conditions on 6 February 2016.

Transformation To The Ice


Shelley Taylor-Smith talks with Christof Wandratsch about his transformation to The Ice.

2015 IISA World Championships


1st International Ice Swimming Association World Championships 1 km fastest heat on 20 March 2015 in Murmansk, Russia.
Lane 1 Evgeni Rabinovich
Lane 2 Sergio Salomone
Lane 4 Craig Lenning
Lane 4 Christof Wandratsch
Lane 6 Henri Kaarma
Lane 6 Albert Sobirov
Lane 8 Eduard Khodakovsk
i Behind the camera: Wyatt Song

2016 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men

Wandratsch 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

External links

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