updated club birth_place nationality name birth_date article_title citizenship
october 27 , 2012 sunday hot chocolate swimming club kibbutz maagan , israel israeli , south african ram barkai 22 october 1957 ram barkai
 south african
ram barkai

ram barkai -lrb- born october 22 , 1957 -rrb- 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 .
born in israel , barkai holds many world records related to swimming , including the record for being the only person to have swum the robben island crossing at night and that of undertaking the world 's most southerly swim in antarctica in 2008 , he has also appeared on many television programs , including the documentary `` stan lee 's superhumans '' .
founder of the international ice swimming association , barkai resides in cape town , south africa , where he moved to in 1966 and first experienced open water swimming .
