This weeks Follow Friday is Lewis Gordon Pugh. He’s swam a kilometre at the North Pole, he’s now swam one on Everest. Do you need any more reason than that? He’s also a good bloke. Follow him on twitter here and here on his website.
This from his latest blog:
“Yesterday, Lewis, did it… Against all odds. He swam 1km across Lake Pumori at an altitude of 5,300m under the summit of Mt Everest. It took him 22 minutes and 51 seconds. The water temperature was 2 degrees centigrade. The next time you walk, run or even drive 1 km think about it. He did it because he was able to create a frame of mind that said that he could do it. He did it because he was able to physically do something that, before now, everyone said was impossible. He did it because he has a great team behind him. And most of all, he did it, because he cares about what is happening to the planet as a result of global warming. He has demonstrated that the strength of the human spirit can overcome even the most adverse conditions.”
This week’s Thursday Thriller is all about people taking swimming up a notch. I’ve chosen three people who’s stories have helped me alot and all three have them have made the seemingly impossible, possible. The first has swum down some of the mightiest rivers on earth, the second has swum a kilometre at the North Pole and is currently on Everest swimming in the highest lake on earth and the third is a real pioneer in cold water swimming who swam from Russia to the USA during the Cold War and who swam to Antarctica. Heroes all of them.
I read this article on Martin Strel while I was home from University and was meant to be studying. Obviously my first reaction was the same as everyone elses-this man is nuts. The story stuck in my head for years, sadly I think this was more because people used to run out on the street and give him cakes rather than the epicness of his achievements! Already by 2003 he had swum the 2360miles of the Mississippi in 68days averaging over 14 and a half hours swimming each day, the Danube and was about to set off down the Yangtse. To say this man was the best at what he does is an understatement and since then he’s recently added swimming the Amazon to his list of records and achievements. The clip below is from the documentary on his Amazon swim.
Lewis Gordon Pugh is incredible. He’s swum pretty much every major ocean swim there is and he’s swim at the North Pole. Let me just say that again, he’s swum at the NORTH POLE! He swam a kilometre at the pole to highlight climate change, swimming at minus 2 celcius for more that 20minutes. At the moment he’s in the Himalayas attempting to swim in the worlds highest lake just below Everest. I love what he does and the way he does it, he’s a true inspiration. You need to follow his latest expedition on twitter here and on his website here.
Lynne’s book Swimming To Antarctica, is a must read for any open water swimmer. It talks about her childhood and her two record breaking attempts on the English Channel it talks about the build up and execution of her swim from Russia to the US during the cold war and it talks about her swimming a mile in Antarctica. This lady is a phenomenon.
If these clips have inspired you to get outdoors and get swimming then the Outdoor Swimming Society is a great place to start and swim with like minded people.
