Achievements
I’ve been swimming for over 30 years, pioneering swims in the most vulnerable ecosystems to get them protected.
Which was the hardest, which was the most memorable? Three swims stand out.
The first was my swim across the North Pole. Nobody had ever swum in such cold temperatures before. I wasn’t sure I would come out alive. So that required a very different mind-set.
The second swim was in the Ross Sea in Antarctica. It led directly to the creation of the largest Marine Protected Area in the world. The day this was announced was the happiest of my life.
And lastly, when I swam the length of the English Channel. Swimming across the Channel is regarded as the Everest of swims. So swimming its length felt historic.
Below are some of the other swims I have undertaken, and honours I’ve received.
Swims
Ice Sheet swim
I undertook the first swim under the East Antarctica ice-sheet to highlight the rapid melting taking place in this region. Now I am helping negotiate the creation of a network of Marine Protected Areas in the region.
Mungo Park Medal
I was awarded the Mungo Park Medal for “an outstanding contribution to geographical knowledge in a potentially hazardous environment” by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
Length of the English Channel
I was the first person to swim the length of the English Channel. The 528km swim took me 49 days to complete. Afterwards the UK agreed to champion a global target of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
Grytviken, South Georgia
South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the world. After the swim the UK increased its protection by 264,000km2.
Adjunct Professor of Law
I am honoured to serve the University of Cape Town, where I first read law in the early 1990s. It was a very difficult time in South Africa. I owe so much to those teachers who helped forge my sence of justice.
Shark tournaments
I visited the South Jersey Shark Tournament and was horrified to find that major corporations are sponsoring the slaughter of endangered shark species. Since then I’ve got many to stop.
Doctor of Science (honoris causa)
I was born in Plymouth. To be awarded a doctorate from the University of Plymouth, which is renowned for all things maritime, felt like coming home.
Ross Sea, Antarctica
It’s the most frightening place to swim. The water was minus 1.7°C and the air temperature was minus 37°C. Afterwards Slava Fetisov and I persuaded Russia to sign the deal that created the largest protected area in the world.
Nat Geo Adventurer of the Year
I was named one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year in 2015. It was a wonderful honour. Tragically, my fellow awardee Ueli Steck was killed on Mt Everest shortly afterwards.
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
I was so proud to be inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, the highest honour in the world of endurance swimming.
UN Patron of Oceans
When the Secretary General of the UN appointed me as the UN Patron of the Oceans, his brief was simple: be a voice for the world’s oceans and help protect those creatures that don’t have a voice.
Mt Everest
I undertook the highest swim in the world. Swimming at altitude is extremely challenging. Swim slowly and you’ll get very cold; go too fast and you can drown – which I very nearly did.
Young Global Leader
I was grateful to be appointed a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. It’s an key forum for business and political leaders to drive positive change in the world.
Order of Ikhamanga (Gold Class)
This is South Africa’s highest honour. The Gold Class has only been awarded to a sportsperson four times, in a country that prides itself on sporting excellence.
North Pole
I undertook the first swim across the North Pole, to highlight the rapid melting of the Arctic sea ice.
Length of the Thames
I was the first person to swim the length of the River Thames – and sadly the last. In 2012 swimming was banned through London after a protestor swam into the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race.
Five oceans
My Pacific Ocean swim was the last swim I needed to become the first person to undertake a long-distance swim in every ocean. It was the end of an incredible journey, which had began 14 years earlier.
Robben Island
I was 17 when I undertook my first long-distance swim – from Robben Island to Cape Town. I barely made the eight kilometres. If I look back on all my swims this one probably means the most to me.