ARGArgentina

Gustavo Oriozabala

1993 England-to-France solo in 8 hours 59 minutes, CSA fastest swim by a man

Also recorded as Gustavo Oriozavala.

Nationality: Argentina, as recorded by the Channel Swimming Association
Federation spelling: Gustavo Oriozavala
Early pool events: 800 m and 1,500 m
1992 Canadian race: Won the 40 km Lac St-Jean crossing
1993 Channel award: CSA fastest swim by a man
Hall of fame: International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, class of 2001

Biography

Gustavo Oriozabala raced the 800 and 1,500 metres in the pool before turning to open water in Argentina. The swimmer from Mendoza joined the national circuit and then began racing internationally. In February 1992 he placed fourth in the 56.725 km Santa Fe–Coronda marathon. That July he won the 40 km Traversée internationale du lac St-Jean from Péribonka to Roberval in Quebec, finishing in 9 hours 55 minutes 55 seconds.

At the English Channel in 1993 he swam from England to France in 8 hours 59 minutes. The Channel Swimming Association lists him as Gustavo Oriozavala and awarded him its fastest swim by a man title for that year. Reg Brickell Jr piloted Helen Ann Marie for the crossing, with R. W. Brickell recorded as observer.

Oriozabala also sought out solo routes in southern waters. The International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame named him an Honor Swimmer in 2001. In a later interview with fellow marathon swimmer Diego Degano, he described his 2006 swim between the two main Falkland Islands as a tribute to the dead of both sides in the 1982 war. Twenty years later, he swam across Lake Nahuel Huapi to a veterans’ memorial in Bariloche.

Selected Channel swim records

England-to-France Channel crossing

Ratifying body's record checked

Recorded swim date · Saturday, 11 September 1993 · Start or finish date not specified by this field

Elapsed swim time · 8h 59m

Duration of the complete swim

Started · Exact start date not confirmed · Clock time not confirmed

Finished · Exact finish date not confirmed · Clock time not confirmed

Timing note · CS&PF gives departure at 20:00:00 and arrival at 04:59:00 beside its generic 11 September record date. Separate phase dates and a time zone are unconfirmed.

Format · Solo · 1-way

Direction · England to France

Pilot / piloting team · Reg Brickell Jr

Escort vessel · Helen Ann Marie

Official observers · R.W. Brickell

Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association

How this record was checked

CSA successful-swim entry 2918 names Gustavo Oriozavala of Argentina and records a one-way England-to-France swim in 08:59 with the fastest swim by a man award. CS&PF entry 443562 matches the name, country, year, route and duration and supplies the record date and crew.

Channel Swimming Association · Gustavo Oriozavala, 1993

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Successful England-to-France solo, Argentina, 08:59 and the fastest swim by a man award.

Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation · 1993 historical record

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Record date, reported clocks, pilot, boat and observer.

Other events & swims

Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe–Coronda

Open-water swimming · Race

Sunday, 2 February 1992 (event date)

Santa Fe, Argentina

Fourth overall

Published distance · 56.725 km

Placing / category · 4th overall

Published elapsed time · 7h 50m 20s

Published account checked

How this event was checked

The organiser’s historical results book, edition 19, lists ORIOZABALA, Gustavo, Argentina fourth in 07h 50′ 20″. The same edition’s details table gives 2 February 1992 and the 56.725 km route.

Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe–Coronda · historical results

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Edition 19, 1992, overall row four and the edition details table.

Traversée internationale du lac St-Jean

Open-water swimming · Race

Sunday, 26 July 1992 (event date)

Péribonka to Roberval, Quebec, Canada

Won the 38th Traversée

Published distance · 40 km

Placing / category · 1st overall

Published elapsed time · 9h 55m 55s

Published account checked

How this event was checked

The organiser’s historical results booklet, 38th Traversée on 26 July 1992, gives a 40 km course and lists Gustavo Oriozabala of Argentina first in 9h55m55s.

Traversée internationale du lac St-Jean · historical results

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · 38th Traversée, 26 July 1992, Péribonka–Roberval, 40 km. The first finisher is Gustavo Oriozabala.

Career milestones

Fourth at Santa Fe–Coronda

1992-02-02

Finished the 19th edition in 7 hours 50 minutes 20 seconds.

Lac St-Jean victory

1992-07-26

Won the 38th Traversée from Péribonka to Roberval.

English Channel success

1993-09

Earned the CSA’s fastest swim by a man award with an 8 hour 59 minute crossing.

International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame

2001

Recognised as an Honor Swimmer from Argentina.

Falkland Islands memorial swim

2006

Swam between the main islands in memory of people killed on both sides in 1982.

Lake Nahuel Huapi tribute

2026

Swam to Bariloche in tribute to veterans, twenty years after his Falkland Islands swim.

Recordings & media

Gustavo Oriozabala on his return to open water

Interview

Open media page

Spanish-language written interview about the change from pool racing to open water, competition in Quebec and later swims.

Link checked 2026-10-31

English Channel questions

Which English Channel swims are included for Gustavo Oriozabala?: The profile includes 1 selected solo performance. A continuous multi-way swim counts as one performance.
When was the first listed Channel swim?: The recorded swim date is Saturday, 11 September 1993. Departure and completion dates are unconfirmed.
How long did that swim take?: The recorded 1-way solo time is 8h 59m.

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Post-swim report describes Oriozabala’s 2026 crossing to Bariloche and his tribute to veterans.

Latest source review 2026-10-31.