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The team

There is no way that I could do what I do without the most
outstanding team. It includes doctors, scientists, coaches,
and many more. Here are the key members:

Tim Noakes

Brian Button

Chris Lotz

Craig Scarpa

David Becker

Jason Roberts

Tessa Graham

Tim Toyne Sewell

Otto Thaning

Martin Jenkins

Michael Walker

Dr Sean Gottschalk

Tim Noakes

Tim is Professor of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Cape Town and is a world authority on the effect of cold and heat on the human body. He has overseen all my polar expeditions. He has helped me work out how to swim in extremely cold water.

Brian Button

Brian is my swimming coach. He is the oldest member of my team at 77 years of age. In a career spanning 5 decades he has literally coached thousands of swimmers. He still swims every day himself.

Chris Lotz

Chris is a freelance cameraman. He specializes in documentaries and has filmed for National Geographic and the Discovery Channel. He filmed me swimming off Antarctica and across the North Pole. He is a perfectionist.

Craig Scarpa

Craig keeps me fit. Our training regime is intense to say the least. Running up Table Mountain, swimming at a reservoir on top, weight training and kayaking. He is with me every step of the way.

David Becker

David is the Chief Legal Counsel for the International Cricket Council in Dubai. He is also an expert in the field of peak performance. He knows how to keep me going when I am totally exhausted or frozen! We met on first day of university and have been best friends ever since.

Jason Roberts

Jason hails from Australia. He fell in love with the Arctic about 20 years ago. He has lived there ever since. Jason filmed the incredible polar bear scenes in the BBC documentary "Planet Earth" for Sir David Attenborough. We went to the North Pole together in 2007.

Tessa Graham

Tessa hails from Canada. She has an extensive background in media from working with Jamie Oliver for 7 years. She helps plan the expeditions and coordinates all the media and speaking engagements.

Tim Toyne Sewell

Tim served in the British Army for 35 years rising to the rank of Major General. His final appointment was as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He is now the Chairman of the United World Colleges. He is one of the most inspirational leaders I have ever met. He led my expedition to Mt Everest.

Otto Thaning

Otto is a heart surgeon. He trained under Professor Christiaan Barnard, who pioneered the first heart transplant. Otto is an accomplished swimmer and has swum the English Channel. He advises me on training.

Martin Jenkins

Martin is an expert in “performance psychology”. He works with me to ensure my mindset is where it needs to be to accomplish these swims. We like to hike, run, swim and scramble along the coastline of South Devon, where we undertake the mental training and preparation for my expeditions.

Michael Walker

Michael Walker is the Chief Photographer for the Cape Times. He worked for a number of years for the Chicago Tribune and the Sunday Times. He has won numerous awards including the Photo of the Year in the 2006 Fuji Photo Press Awards.

Melody Deas

Melody is the Manger of Photography at Hirt & Carter, Cape Town. She has has shot covers for many magazines including Runner’s World, Reader’s Digest and Outside Magazine. Her sense of adventure always leads her to getting the best shot.

Dr Sean Gottschalk

Sean is an Emergency Medicine Consultant. He has extensive experience in sports medicine, including cycling, hiking, football, cricket and big-wave surfing. He is passionate about the outdoors, and has hiked in many exotic locations.

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