Pugh who has pioneered more swims than any other swimmer in history had already completed long-distance swims in the Atlantic Ocean (across the English Channel, 1992), the Arctic Ocean (around North Cape – the most northern point in Europe, 2003), the Southern Ocean (across Deception Island off Antarctica, 2005), and the Indian Ocean (across Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa, 2006). Today he swam 15km from Manly Beach to the Sydney Opera House to complete a swim in the Pacific Ocean.
The swim comes just weeks after Pugh broke the world record for the most southern swim ever completed – in 0°C water off Antarctica.
“There’s something very magical about swimming in all 5 Oceans of the world. It feels great to have been the first to it!” an elated Pugh said after the swim. “A few years ago I would never have believed this would be possible.”
Professor Tim Noakes, Director of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, who accompanied Pugh on his recent Arctic and Antarctic swims, explained the difficulties:
“The challenge of swimming in all 5 oceans is rooted in the limitations of human physiology. There are very few swimmers in the world that can complete a long-distance swim in the Arctic Ocean or Southern Ocean in just a Speedo. Most swimmers would be disabled within seconds of diving into the freezing water. However, Pugh is able to do this because he has a unique ability to raise his core body temperature in anticipation of swimming in extreme cold water. This is a very special moment in the history of swimming, and sport generally”.
The Pacific Ocean swim today was relatively easy for Pugh compared with the challenges of his recent Arctic and Southern Ocean swims – today’s swim was in 20°C water and took 6 hours and 1 minute to complete. However, Lewis’s electronic anti shark device was washed over board at the start of the swim. Lewis said:
“It was a bit scary swimming in Australian waters after all the shark attacks here without an electronic anti-shark device but luckily we did not encounter any sharks”.
Lewis added: “I want to thank all those people who have helped me achieve this dream, especially all the scientists at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa who trained me to swim in the Arctic and the Antarctic”.
For details on Lewis’s Arctic, Atlantic and Southern Ocean swims please see http://www.lewispugh.com
