Lewis Pugh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lewis Pugh
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Lewis Pugh
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| Born | 5 December 1969 |
| Nationality | British |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom, South Africa |
| Alma mater | Jesus College, Cambridge University of Cape Town |
| Occupation | Endurance swimmer and Ocean advocate |
| Parent(s) | Surgeon Rear Admiral P.D. Gordon Pugh and Margery Pugh |
| Honours | Order of Ikhamanga (Gold Class) 2009 Doctor of Science 2015 Mungo Park Medal 2019 |
Lewis William Gordon Pugh (born 5 December 1969) is a British and South African endurance swimmer. He is also a strong advocate for protecting our oceans. People sometimes call him the "Sir Edmund Hillary of swimming." This is because he was the first person to swim long distances in every ocean in the world. He often swims in places that are in danger to show everyone how important it is to protect them.
Pugh is famous for being the first person to swim across the North Pole in 2007. He did this to highlight how the Arctic sea ice is melting. In 2010, he swam in a glacial lake on Mount Everest. This swim drew attention to melting glaciers in the Himalayas and how this affects water supplies. In 2018, he swam the whole length of the English Channel. He did this to ask for 30% of the world's oceans to be protected by 2030.
The United Nations named Lewis Pugh their first UN Patron of the Oceans in 2013. In 2016, he helped create the world's largest marine reserve in the Ross Sea near Antarctica. People called his efforts "Speedo Diplomacy" because he swam in icy waters and helped bring countries like the US and Russia together to agree on the reserve.
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Lewis Pugh's Early Life and Education
Lewis Pugh was born in Plymouth, England, on 5 December 1969. His father, P.D. Gordon Pugh, was a surgeon in the Royal Navy. His mother, Margery Pugh, was a Senior Nursing Sister.
When Lewis was 10, his family moved to South Africa. He studied politics and law at the University of Cape Town. Later, he returned to England and studied international law at Jesus College, Cambridge. For ten years, he worked as a lawyer who dealt with sea-related laws. During this time, he also served as a Reservist in the British Special Air Service.
Lewis Pugh's Amazing Swims
Over 30 years, Lewis Pugh has been the first to complete more swims around famous places than any other swimmer. In 2013, he was added to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
First Swims and Records
Lewis Pugh had his first proper swimming lesson when he was 17. Just one month later, he swam from Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner) to Cape Town. In 1992, he swam across the English Channel.
He was the first person to swim around Cape Agulhas (the southernmost point in Africa). He also swam around the Cape of Good Hope and the Cape Peninsula. Pugh was also the first person to swim across an African Great Lake, Lake Malawi.
Swimming in Freezing Waters
After 2003, Lewis Pugh focused on swimming in the world's coldest and most dangerous waters. He always swam wearing only a Speedo swimsuit, a cap, and goggles. He was the first person to swim around North Cape, the northernmost point in Europe. The next year, he swam the entire length of Sognefjord in Norway, which is 204 kilometers (127 miles) long. This swim took him 21 days.
In 2005, he broke the world record for the farthest-north long-distance swim. He swam 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) at 80° North in Spitsbergen. Five months later, he broke another world record for the farthest-south long-distance swim. He swam 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) at 65° South near Petermann Island off the Antarctic Peninsula. In November 2017, Pugh became the first person to swim in the Antarctic waters around South Georgia Island.
How Lewis Pugh's Body Stays Warm
When Lewis Pugh swims in freezing water, his body can warm itself up by almost 2°C (3.6°F) before he even gets in! Scientists call this "anticipatory thermo-genesis," which means creating heat before an event. This special ability has not been seen in any other human. Some scientists think it's because he has swum in cold water so many times. Lewis Pugh believes it's his body's reaction to fear.
World Winter Swimming Champion
In 2006, Lewis Pugh challenged Russia's best cold-water swimmers to a 500-meter race. This was at the World Winter Swimming Championships in Finland. He easily won the gold medal, beating the Russian Champion by over 100 meters.
The "Holy Grail" of Swimming
In 2006, Lewis Pugh achieved a huge goal in swimming. He became the first person to complete a long-distance swim in all five oceans of the world. His five swims were:
- Atlantic Ocean – across the English Channel in 1992.
- Arctic Ocean – around the northernmost point of the Island of Spitsbergen in 2005.
- Southern Ocean – across Whaler's Bay in Deception Island in 2005.
- Indian Ocean – across Nelson Mandela Bay in 2006.
- Pacific Ocean – from Manly Beach to the Sydney Opera House in 2006.
Lewis Pugh's Environmental Swims
Lewis Pugh uses his amazing swims to draw attention to important environmental issues.
River Thames Swim
In 2006, he became the first person to swim the entire length of the River Thames in England. He did this to highlight the severe drought in England and the dangers of global warming. The 325-kilometer (202-mile) swim took him 21 days. Because of the drought, the upper part of the river had no water, so Pugh had to run the first 42 kilometers (26 miles).
While swimming through London, Pugh met with Prime Minister Tony Blair. He asked the United Kingdom to move towards a low-carbon economy. Soon after, the Prime Minister introduced a new law about climate change.
Maldives Swim
In February 2007, Pugh became the first person to swim across the width of the Maldives. He did this to raise awareness about how climate change affects low-lying islands around the world. The 140-kilometer (87-mile) swim took 10 days.
North Pole Swim
In July 2007, Lewis Pugh completed the first long-distance swim across the Geographic North Pole. He swam 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) across an open patch of sea. The water was minus 1.7°C (29°F), and the swim took 18 minutes and 50 seconds. This swim happened when the Arctic sea ice was at its lowest level ever recorded.
Mount Everest Swim
In May 2010, Pugh swam across Lake Pumori, a glacial lake on Mount Everest. He did this to highlight the melting glaciers in the Himalayas. Millions of people in India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal rely on water from these glaciers. The 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) swim was at an altitude of 5,300 meters (17,388 feet). The water was 2°C (35°F), and the swim took 22 minutes and 51 seconds.
The Seven Seas Swim
In August 2014, Pugh became the first person to swim long distances in all Seven Seas. He did this to campaign for more Marine Protected Areas. These are special areas in the ocean where marine life is protected. The swims were 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) each, except for the North Sea swim which was 60 kilometers (37 miles).
After these swims, Pugh wrote that he saw "no sharks, no whales, no dolphins" and "no fish longer than 30 centimeters." This showed him how urgent the problem of ocean health is.
English Channel Swim
In July and August 2018, Pugh swam the entire length of the English Channel. He swam 528 kilometers (328 miles) over 49 days. He did this to call for 30% of oceans to be protected by 2030. When he finished, the UK Environment Secretary called him a "modern day hero" and a "brilliant champion for marine conservation zones."
Kayaking in the Arctic
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In September 2008, Lewis Pugh tried to kayak 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) from Svalbard to the North Pole. He wanted to show more people how the sea ice is melting. His team had to stop 135 kilometers (84 miles) from the start. Pugh said that global warming actually made it harder. He thought melting ice would open up the sea, but instead, the ice was pushed south towards them. He saw that most of the ice was only a meter thick, much thinner than before.
Lewis Pugh as a Speaker
Lewis Pugh is a great storyteller. He has spoken twice at the TED Global Conference. The Financial Times called his 2010 TEDGlobal speech "the perfect TED talk."
He has also spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He gives speeches to world leaders and business leaders about climate change, overfishing, and pollution. He stresses the need to protect marine areas and create economies that produce less carbon.
Protecting the Environment
Lewis Pugh's father taught him to love and respect nature. In 2003, Pugh left his law job to work full-time on protecting the oceans.
In 2009, Pugh worked with Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu. They gathered stories from people across Africa about how climate change was affecting them. This information was then shared at a big United Nations meeting about climate change.
Polar Defense Project
In 2008, Pugh started the Polar Defense Project. This project works to protect the Arctic and solve disagreements about sea borders. In 2009, it won an award for the Best Project for the Environment.
Fighting Plastic Pollution
In 2018, Lewis Pugh was named one of the most influential people in the world talking about how to stop plastic pollution on social media.
Lewis Pugh in the Media
Pugh has appeared on many TV shows, including Good Morning America and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. In 2009, he was in a TV show called Robson Green's Wild Swimming Adventure. He trained the actor Robson Green to swim in the icy waters of Llyn Llydaw, a lake in Wales.
Books by Lewis Pugh
In 2010, Lewis Pugh's autobiography, "Achieving the Impossible," was published. It quickly became a best-seller.
In 2013, Pugh wrote another book called "21 Yaks and a Speedo." The title refers to his swim on Mount Everest. The book shares 21 short stories about his expeditions and the lessons he learned.
Awards and Recognition
Lewis Pugh has received many awards for his swimming and environmental work:
- 2019 - The Mungo Park Medal from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
- 2018 - Inducted into the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame.
- 2017 - SAB Environmentalist of the Year.
- 2017 - Named one of "50 Most Adventurous Men in the World" by Men's Journal.
- 2015 - Doctor of Science (honorary degree) from Plymouth University.
- 2015 - National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.
- 2013 - Appointed as the United Nations Patron of the Oceans.
- 2013 - Inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
- 2010 - Named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
- 2009 - Awarded the highest honor in South Africa, the Order of Ikhamanga (Gold Class). This was for his amazing sporting achievements and for raising awareness about global warming.
- 2009 - Best Project for the Environment – Beyond Sport Awards.
- 2007 - Fellow of The Explorers Club, New York.
- 2006 - Freedom of the City of London.
Personal Life
In 2009, Lewis Pugh married Antoinette Malherbe.
