"The physical effort as he battles currents, coldness and wind is massive, but the mental challenge of ploughing on alone for hours on end is even more testing. Neil Gilson, a father-of-three from Devon, is about to set off on the next leg of his attempt to become the first person to swim the 10 largest lakes in Switzerland, a total of about 230 miles."
"Gilson was once ranked second in Britain for the 1500-metre freestyle and after finishing race swimming, turned to endurance challenges. In 2024, he did a world record swim across Lac Leman (Lake Geneva), completing 45 miles in 22 hours and nine minutes. But that was not enough. I love the lakes and the scenery and came up with the idea of the 10 largest lakes in Switzerland because it just sounded like a big, exciting challenge."
Neil Gilson attempts to swim the 10 largest lakes in Switzerland, covering roughly 230 miles, aiming to become the first person to complete the Legend of the Lakes. He is motivated to raise awareness of a neuropsychiatric condition that affected his son at 18 months. A former international swimmer who ranked second in Britain for the 1500-metre freestyle, Gilson shifted to endurance swims and set a world record crossing Lac Leman in 2024, completing 45 miles in 22 hours and nine minutes. He trains early mornings and nights while running the family hotel. Swiss lakes present unpredictable, choppy conditions and unique local climates that make them more demanding than the sea.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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