Waschburger began open water swimming in 2004. In 2009, he finished third in the overall European Cup, and in 2010 and 2013, he won this series over 5 and 10 kilometers. In 2011, he won a World Cup race in Cancún and finished third in the overall World Cup standings. He finished 17th at the European Championships in Budapest in 2010 and tenth at the World Championships the following year. This qualified him for the 2012 Summer Olympics, finishing 8th in the 10 km open water marathon.[1][2]
In 2013, he competed at the Universiade in Kazan over 10 kilometers and finished third behind Matteo Furlan (Italy) and Romain Berand (France).[3]
At the 2012 European Open Water Swimming Championships in Piombino, Italy, Waschburger finished second in the 5 km and 10 km events.[4] In 2017, he became the first German to win Vansbrosimningen in Sweden.[5]
In early 2023, he became world champion in ice swimming with the German mixed relay team.[6] At the 2024 European Ice Swimming Championships in Oradea, Romania, Waschburger won gold in the 500 m freestyle with a world record time of 5:32.72 and in the 1000 m freestyle with a world record time of 11:24.20. He also took bronze medals in the 250 m freestyle and the 4×250 m mixed relay.[7] In January 2025, he defended his titles at the Ice Swimming World Championships in Molveno, Italy, winning gold in the 1000 m and 500 m freestyle, and silver in the 250 m freestyle and 4×250 m mixed relay.[8]
On September 8, 2023, Waschburger crossed the English Channel from Dover to Calais in 6 hours 45 minutes and 25 seconds, breaking the eleven-year-old world record for this 32.31 km distance.[9]
On October 6, 2024, he set a new world record crossing the 44 km Molokai Channel in 9 hours 55 minutes 10 seconds, beating the previous record by 2 hours and 7 minutes.[10]
