Maya Merhige completes Gibraltar swim, sixth Oceans Seven crossing

Nineteen-year-old marathon swimmer Maya Merhige crossed the Strait of Gibraltar on Aug. 11, completing her sixth Oceans Seven channel swim and moving closer to a record as the youngest person to finish the series. The Berkeley native is using the effort to raise money for cancer research through Swim Across America.

Why it matters: - Maya Merhige, 19, is one swim away from completing the Oceans Seven, the open-water challenge often compared with mountaineering’s Seven Summits. - The Berkeley, California swimmer is pursuing a global age record while raising money for cancer research. - Merhige has raised more than $170,000 for cancer research over the past decade through Swim Across America.

What happened: - Merhige swam the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Morocco on Tuesday, Aug. 11. - The crossing took 3 hours, 49 minutes and 49 seconds. - Gibraltar was her sixth successful Oceans Seven crossing. - The swim took place in Tarifa, in Spain’s province of Cádiz. - Merhige is a rising sophomore at Georgetown University.

The details: - The Strait of Gibraltar separates Europe from Africa and links the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. - At its narrowest point, the crossing is about 14.4 kilometers, or 8.947 miles. - Tides and currents usually force swimmers to cover a longer route. - The strait is known for marine life, shipping traffic, strong currents, unpredictable winds and strict maritime rules. - Crossings are overseen and certified by the Strait of Gibraltar Swimming Association, or ACNEG. - Only two or three crossings are allowed each year. - Only 52 swimmers worldwide have completed the Oceans Seven. - Merhige began the series at 14 with the 32.3-kilometer Catalina Channel in 2021, when she became the youngest woman to complete the crossing. - She became the youngest swimmer to finish the 42-kilometer Kaiwi, or Molokai Channel, in 2023 at age 15. - She completed the 33-kilometer English Channel in 2024 at age 16. - She finished the 22.5-kilometer Cook Strait in New Zealand in 2025 at age 17, despite hundreds of jellyfish stings. - In July, at 18, she completed the 34.5-kilometer North Channel from Ireland to Scotland in 12 hours, 19 minutes and 37 seconds. - Her final Oceans Seven target is Japan’s 19.5-kilometer Tsugaru Strait, which she plans to attempt in 2027. - Merhige has also completed the Tahoe Triple Crown, Manhattan’s 20 Bridges swim, the Angel Island swim and the Three Rocks swim in San Francisco Bay. - Just after her 13th birthday, she became the youngest woman to swim the width of Lake Tahoe.

Between the lines: - Merhige’s Gibraltar swim was part of a paired crossing with Carles of Spain and Dan of the United Kingdom, with the group aiming to start together, finish together and have fun. - Sunny skies and clear water made for ideal conditions. - Her mother, Liz Tung, joined the crew boat for the first time since the Molokai Channel crossing three years ago. - Her father, Chris Merhige, served as the “calm force” behind the operation. - Her younger sister, Lucy, joined an escort boat for the first time. - Merhige’s focus on cancer research is tied to family and personal loss, including joining Swim Across America at age 9 to honor a family friend and remember another friend who died of brain cancer at 12. - During marathon swims, Merhige has carried the names of friends and family members affected by cancer on her swim cap. - This summer, she has raised more than $20,000 toward a $45,000 fundraising goal. - Her swimming also honored Sydney Towle, a 26-year-old content creator who died Aug. 5 after nearly three years with metastatic cholangiocarcinoma. - Towle had more than 1.2 million TikTok followers and shared her cancer journey publicly. - Merhige posted Towle’s story on her @chasing_channels Instagram account before the swim and thanked Towle’s brother, Austin Towle, for allowing the tribute. - Merhige said swimming feels easier than what cancer patients endure and said she wants to help fund better treatments and cures. - The North Channel swim came one year after major surgery following a benign pancreatic tumor discovered after a 2023 ski accident. - Those health issues deepened her empathy for patients and families facing serious illness.

What's next: - Merhige plans to attempt the Tsugaru Strait in Japan in 2027. - Fundraising for her Oceans Seven effort continues through Swim Across America. - Supporters can donate through Swim Across America. - Swim Across America says Merhige’s fundraising supports pediatric cancer research and patient care at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute and the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco Survivors of Childhood Cancer Program. - The nonprofit says it has raised more than $150 million for cancer research since 1987 and supports more than 60 research projects each year. - Swim Across America says its support has helped advance immunotherapy research that contributed to FDA approvals for multiple cancer treatments.

The bottom line: - Merhige is closing in on a rare endurance milestone, and she is pairing the chase for records with a very public push for cancer research.