Ram Barkai

Ram Barkai (born October 22, 1957) is a South African open water swimmer and former businessman, specializing in winter swimming and known for his ability to withstand extremely cold waters. He has taken on many of the world's toughest swims, including that in the icy waters of Switzerland and the shark-infested waters of South Africa. Founder of the International Ice Swimming Association, Barkai resides in Cape Town, South Africa, where he moved to in 1996 and first experienced cold open water swimming.
Career
Military
Prior to moving to Cape Town, where he now resides, Barkai served five years in the Israeli Army and 9 years in Tokyo and Japan.
Businessman
Swimming aside, Barkai was the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Cadiz Holding Limited from 2005 to 2012.
Swimming
*Ram Barkai completed many swims around the world.
*1. Robben Island Crossing 25 times.
*2. Rottnest Perth, Australianaked solo category.
*3. Round Cape Point First Man to do the swim together with Andrew Chin.
*4. Round The Cape Peninsula 100 km relay swim.
*5. Across the Sea of Galilee 10 km width and 22 km Length.
*6. Antarctica 1 km at 1C at 70 degrees South - Guinness World Record 2008.
*7. Lake Zurich Barkai swam 2.3k at 4C
*8. Ram was part of a team of six swimmers who swam the entire length, 2000 km, of the Orange River
*9. Around Pennock Island Alaska 14 km
*10. Magellan Straits, Beagle Channel and was part of a team of 5 South Africans to be the first ever swimmers to swim around Cape Horn
*11. Siberia Tyumen 1 km at 0C and 1.5 km at 0c, air temp -33C
*12. Russia Murmansk 1mile at 0C
*13 Participated in an international relay team that swim across two entire widths of the Bering Strait 134 km water temp 2C-8C
*14 Antarctica, Neko Harbor swam 1.2 km at water temp of -1C
*15 Iceland, akureyri swam an Ice Mile mid winter on New Year's eve 2015; water temp 4c; air temp -15c
*16 Magellan strait, swam across with Andrew Chin, Kieron Palframan, Toks Viviers & Ryan Stramrood 2009; 4 km in 9C
*17 Beagle Channel, swam across from Chile to Argentina and back with Andrew Chin, Kieron Palframan, Toks Viviers & Ryan Stramrood 2009; 3 km at 8C
*18 Cape Horn, first ever team to swim around Cabo de Hornos, Chile between the Two lighthouses with Andrew Chin, Kieron Palframan, Toks Viviers & Ryan Stramrood 2009; 2.5 km at 7C
*19 Lake Baikal Russia swam an Ice Mile in water temp of 4C, 2017
*20 Svalbard last station to the North Pole Swam the most north Ice Mile 1.610 km water temp 4C, 2017, with a Polish Expedition
Personal life
Ram Barkai . has four children.<ref name="Speedo"/>

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