Lewis Pugh

Lewis Pugh is an endurance swimmer and an ocean advocate.

He swims in the most vulnerable ecosystems on Earth to campaign for their protection. He was the first person to undertake a long-distance swim in every ocean of the world. He pioneered the first swim across the North Pole, the first swim along the length of the English Channel, the world’s highest swim (on Mt Everest) and even a swim under the Antarctic ice sheet.

Pugh’s work now focuses on creating marine protected areas. In 2016 he helped establish the largest protected area in the world in the Ross Sea off Antarctica. He has been instrumental in protecting over 2 million km2 ocean, an area the size of Western Europe. In 2025, Pugh underwent the Shark Swim, where, in honor of the 50th anniversary of "Jaws," he set out to swim around the island of Martha's Vineyard throughout May to change the public's perception of sharks and advocate for their conservation.

Pugh talks about how he undertakes these swims, which many regarded as "impossible", and the campaigns to get the areas protected. He speaks about creating a clear vision, choosing the right team, meticulous preparation, resilience, and changing when circumstances dictate. And he speaks about purpose - it’s the engine which drives us. TED describes him as a “master storyteller”.

Pugh has received a number of awards for his work. He was awarded South Africa’s highest honour, the Order of Ikhamanga (Gold Class). He was appointed UN Patron of the Oceans in 2013. Most recently, he was made a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.