About

Lewis Pugh is an endurance swimmer and ocean advocate.

For nearly forty years, he has pioneered swims in some of the world's most extreme and fragile environments - from the North Pole to Antarctica, and from the Himalayas to the great rivers of the world. He swims wearing only trunks, a cap and goggles. No wetsuit. No shortcuts.

Lewis was the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean of the world. Each expedition is undertaken to draw attention to places that are changing fast, and to help secure their lasting protection. Through his work, and the efforts of the Lewis Pugh Foundation, more than 3.5 million km² of vulnerable ocean have been safeguarded - an area larger than Western Europe.

In 2013, the United Nations Environment Programme appointed Lewis as Patron of the Oceans. His role is simple: to be a voice for the world's oceans and the wildlife and people that depend on them.

Whether swimming through ice or leading through uncertainty, Lewis believes the same principles apply. You need a clear purpose. You need commitment. And you need the courage to keep going when progress is slow and the outcome is uncertain.

These are the lessons he shares through his speaking and writing.