Oldest person to swim the Cook Strait (male)

The oldest man to swim across the Cook Strait in New Zealand is Kamil Resa Alsaran (Türkiye, b. 16 March 1961) who was aged 63 years 17 days when he completed the crossing on 2 April 2024. The swim was observed and ratified by the New Zealand Open Water Swimming Association.

Alsaran swam the 22-km (13.7-mi) route from South Island (Perano Head, Arapaoa Island) to North Island (Cape Terawhiti) with a total swim duration of 12 hours 34 minutes 13 seconds. He was piloted by Grant Orchard on board the vessel Kababatic.

The first documented swim crossing of the Cook Strait was performed by Barrie Devenport (New Zealand) on 20 November 1962. Aged 27, he swam from North Island to South Island in 11 hours 20 minutes. There are unverified accounts of the swim being completed prior to this in Māori folk history.