Circle of island in Spain
German extreme swimmer puts a world record
Updated on 04.10.2025 – 9:05 a.m.Reading time: 1 min.
Even seasickness and unfavorable currents could not stop them. Nathalie Pohl swam around Ibiza and thus achieved something that nobody succeeded before her.
Nathalie Pohl and her colleague Andy Donaldson circled the island of Ibiza swimming. The two athletes mastered the more than 110 -kilometer route in almost 31 hours – a project that had never been done before.
A distance of exactly 110 kilometers was originally planned. Due to unfavorable currents, the route extended. Pohl and Donaldson competed in relay mode and changed every two hours. This model had to be strictly observed, otherwise the record would not have been recognized. “We have no plan B. If one of us does not make it or can no longer do it, it is over,” Pohl had explained in advance.
The last kilometers both completed together and were received with applause on the beach. During the circulation, the swimmers had to deal with difficult conditions. Pohl reported high waves and seasickness. With the support of the team, the successful record performance was achieved.
After the finish, the 29-year-old, who was the first German woman to swim through the seven meters (Ocean’s Seven), said at Magenta: “The last few hours were extremely exhausting.” And added: “I will take a shower and then to bed.”