Ted Lomicka Becomes First Man to Complete 34-Mile Triple Maui Nui Swim

Courtesy: Ted Lomicka

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (March 18, 2026) — Edward (“Ted”) Lomicka, 57, has become the first man and second person in history to complete the 34-mile Triple Maui Nui Swim, a non-stop, three-channel crossing in the Pacific Ocean linking the Hawaiian islands of Lanai, Maui, and Molokai.

Lomicka began the swim at 3:23 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, at Old Club Lanai under rainy conditions. He finished at 3:10 p.m. Sunday at Shipwreck Beach on Lanai, completing the 54-kilometer course in 23 hours, 47 minutes. The swim was reviewed and ratified by the Hawaiian Channel Swimming Association (HCSA).

The Triple Maui Nui Swim consists of consecutive crossings of the Au’au, Pailolo, and Kalohi Channels, requiring swimmers to exit each island, clear the high-water mark, and immediately re-enter the ocean before continuing.

Leg 1 — Au’au Channel
Lanai to Maui
9.5 miles | 5 hours, 54 minutes
3:23 p.m. – 9:17 p.m.

Leg 2 — Pailolo Channel
Maui to Molokai
14.8 miles | 9 hours, 48 minutes
9:17 p.m. – 7:05 a.m.

Leg 3 — Kalohi Channel
Molokai to Lanai
9.3 miles | 8 hours, 5 minutes
7:05 a.m. – 3:10 p.m.

The Pailolo Channel, widely regarded as one of Hawaii’s most demanding crossings, brought sustained wind and rough-water conditions through the night. Elite American open-water swimmer Becca Mann completed the first official Triple Maui Nui Swim in 2019, becoming the first person to finish the three-channel route. The concept was originally conceived in 1989 by Hawaiian channel swimmer Harry Huffaker, who completed two of the three channels during an attempt that year.

Lomicka credited his escort crew and advisors for navigation, safety, feeding, and strategy across nearly 24 hours in open water. His 28-foot Boston Whaler boat and kayak team included co-captains Andy Joca and Phil Kibby, first mate Logan Kibby, EMT Brett Collins, tandem swimmer Terri Dietz, feeder Tina Neill, and observer Michelle Simmons. Swim advisors included Steven Minaglia, president of the Hawaiian Channel Swimming Association; Hawaii channel swimmer Mike Spalding; Ryan Leong of the Kaiwi Channel Association; and Jon Storm, race director of the North Shore Swim Series.

“In order to put yourself in the right mindset for an endurance event, it’s important to remind yourself that you’re safe, protected, and surrounded by people who care for you,” Lomicka said. “At the lowest point of the swim, I considered stopping after two channels. My crew reminded me what finishing would mean. That perspective changed everything.”

A healthcare executive by profession, Lomicka entered endurance sports through triathlon and has completed 35 IRONMAN 140.6-mile races, including the 2016 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona. He finished the ULTRAMAN World Championship in 2019 and has completed multiple marathon swims, including the 28-mile Kaiwi Channel (Molokai to Oahu) in 2023, a 12.5-mile circumnavigation of Key West, and three 21–23-mile swims in Saint Lucia. During the final miles of the Kalohi Channel, Lomicka was accompanied intermittently by a juvenile humpback whale swimming beneath him while adult whales remained nearby.

Lomicka trains with swim coaches Cori Linder and Ella Haile Dunn at Life Time Franklin and Ashley Whitney of Nashville Aquatic Club.

With the Triple Maui Nui now complete, Lomicka plans to compete in IRONMAN Chattanooga in September 2026, aiming to record his 36th IRONMAN finish.

“I believe ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they commit to the right mindset,” he added. “This swim was a reminder that preparation and belief matter most when conditions are at their worst.”

For media inquiries, interview requests, speaking engagements, or podcast appearances, contact Lomicka at [email protected].

About Edward (“Ted”) Lomicka

Edward (“Ted”) Lomicka is an American ultra-endurance athlete, marathon swimmer, and healthcare executive known for pursuing large-scale endurance challenges across triathlon and open-water swimming. A 35-time IRONMAN finisher and 2019 ULTRAMAN World Championship competitor, Lomicka has completed the Kaiwi Channel (Molokai to Oahu), multiple Caribbean marathon swims, and now the Triple Maui Nui Swim — becoming the first man and second person in history to complete the three-channel crossing consecutively. He is currently writing First to Five: The Five Hammers of a Do Anything Mindset, a forthcoming book examining the psychological framework, preparation strategies, and decision-making principles that underpin ultra-endurance performance and other high-stakes pursuits. He trains in Tennessee and competes internationally.