There’s not much this man isn’t capable of. After almost four months (114 days) in brutal, icy conditions, Ross Edgley has officially completed his 1000-mile swim and become the first person to swim around Iceland. This is Ross’s greatest accomplishment yet, and that's saying something.
Ross began his expedition back in May, just as summer was approaching. And now, after an entire season has passed, he ends his journey right in time for fall.
There were many moving parts that made Ross's incredible feat possible. Read on to learn about the mission, team, challenges, and more.
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The Team
Many organizations and individuals contributed to making the Great Icelandic Swim possible.
Key contributors included:
- Research teams from the University of Iceland and the University of Victoria- supporting the microplastic mission
- WildArk and BioProtect- leading the environmental initiative (eDNA sampling and biodiversity)
- Luke Halliday- leading the crew's nutrition strategy
- Luke Hallam, Ollie Jelley, and Benjamin J Marshall- in charge of filming and documentation
- Myprotein- providing top-notch supplements
Plus many others. Ross traveled with several crew members to help with nutrition, monitoring tides and currents, cooking, and yacht maintenance, among other tasks.
Dangerous Arctic Conditions
The Arctic presented Ross and his crew with relentless, dangerous conditions that pushed both body and equipment to their limits. Water temperatures hovered near freezing, forcing the athlete to swim in icy seas where hypothermia was a constant threat, and even short dips left him shivering and drained.
Strong tides and shifting currents meant the team had to calculate swim times with precision, since missing the window could sweep Ross far off course. Unpredictable weather added to the challenge — thick fog, brutal winds, and sudden storms tested the yacht’s navigation and demanded round-the-clock vigilance.
The cold also wreaked havoc on the boat itself: generators failed, ice built up on equipment, and maintaining power for heating and safety became a battle of its own. Layered on top of these physical hazards was the psychological strain of the Arctic’s isolation, with endless daylight and stark, unforgiving landscapes amplifying exhaustion for Ross and the crew.
One of the most persistent threats Ross faced during the swim was the sheer number of jellyfish in Iceland’s waters. At times, he swam through what he called a “jellyfish apocalypse,” with stings to his chin, nose, and even inside his mouth, leaving his face painfully swollen and burning. The crew worked to protect him with creams, oils, and taped gear around his neck, but lion’s mane jellyfish in particular were unavoidable and became a daily battle, adding another layer of danger and discomfort to this already trying mission.
Ross Edgley + Myprotein
In this daring journey, Ross knew he was going to be relying on serious nutrition to power him through—and that's where we came in. Ross originally joined the Myprotein team 15 years ago, and after a long time away, reunited with us several months before this epic feat. Each day of his Iceland swim, Ross consumed 10,000 calories from Myprotein supps like Clear Whey Isolate, THE Whey, THE Energy Gel, and THE Electro.
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During the expedition, Ross relied heavily on our supps to maintain energy, strength, and recovery in extreme Arctic conditions. The crew ensured he had a consistent supply of Clear Whey Isolate, which was easy to digest during long swims and crucial for maintaining protein intake.
He also used carb-heavy shakes, energy gels, and electrolyte mixes to replenish glycogen, sustain hydration, and prevent cramps while battling freezing water and relentless exertion. Nutrition was carefully managed by Luke Halliday, who coordinated the timing and composition of Ross’s fuel to optimize both performance and recovery. For Ross, these supps were an essential lifeline, helping him endure the physical demands of swimming hundreds of kilometers in inhospitable conditions.
Live Documentation
Throughout his journey, Ross kept his fans updated and on the edge of our seats. The super athlete documented his entire journey through social media and YouTube vlogs, posting an entertaining, inspiring, and downright frightening vlog every two weeks.
Ross’s journey was meticulously documented by a dedicated media team, capturing both the logistical and emotional realities of the expedition. Through recording, Ross and his team were able to share their experience with the public, provide insight into the preparation and strategy behind such extreme swims, highlight the environmental and scientific aspects of the mission, and, of course, catch history in the making on camera.
The core filming team included Luke Hallam, Ollie Jelley, and Benjamin J Marshall, who managed all video documentation while coordinating with Ross and the crew. Capturing this epic journey on film was no simple task.
Filming schedules were tightly integrated with Ross’s swim windows and the unpredictable weather; the crew often worked through storms and late-night hours to capture key moments, including technical setups like measuring tides or recording feeding strategies.
The film crew's equipment ranged from standard cameras to drones and specialized water-resistant setups, ensuring every segment of the swim, from preparation to the swim itself, could be captured. The team also creatively adapted to constraints, using improvised techniques when the boat’s power systems or remote locations limited conventional filming methods.
Ross’s Past Accomplishments
Ross's swim around Iceland was his toughest challenge and greatest accomplishment yet, but that doesn't mean his past feats were anything but extraordinary.
The athlete's career is defined by a series of groundbreaking endurance feats that have cemented his reputation as one of the world’s most accomplished open water swimmers. Over the past 15 years, he has set multiple Guinness World Records, including the longest non-stop river swim in the Yukon River, covering 318 miles (510 km) in 56 hours, and becoming the first person to hold simultaneous records for distance swimming in both river and sea.
He famously completed the 1,780-mile (2,860 km) swim around mainland Great Britain in 157 days, and in 2018, became the fastest to swim from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in 62 days.
Ross has also tackled extreme cold-water challenges, including a 52-hour swim in the UK’s largest lake and a 32-hour, 66-mile swim in Italy’s Lake Trasimeno. Beyond swimming, he has written books, run ultra-marathons, and produced high-profile series such as Shark vs Ross Edgley. Ross is a game-changer, constantly breaking records and redefining what's possible in the swimming universe. Now with Iceland under his belt, who knows what's next for this champion?
Citizen Science Project
There are so many aspects of Ross Edgley’s Iceland swim that are, simply put, awesome, but one of the most remarkable was the Citizen Science Project at the heart of the mission. Ross teamed up with scientists to collect water samples for environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis and microplastic testing, shedding light on Iceland’s unique marine biodiversity while supporting the Microplastic Mission (
. Partnering with organizations including the University of Iceland, the University of Victoria, the Marine and Freshwater Institute of Iceland, Matis, and BioProtect EU, every stroke contributed to real scientific data.Collecting environmental DNA and microplastic samples isn’t just about gathering data—it provides critical insights into the health of Iceland’s oceans. eDNA helps scientists understand which species are present, including rare or elusive marine life, while microplastic analysis reveals the impact of human activity on these fragile ecosystems. By contributing to this research, Ross and his team are helping to inform conservation strategies and protect marine biodiversity for the future.
Ross explained in his vlogs that he wanted this swim to have a deeper purpose than some of his previous challenges, combining extreme endurance with environmental stewardship. Braving icy waters and unpredictable conditions, the team’s dedication, precision, and passion demonstrated that world-class performance and meaningful impact can go hand in hand, leaving a lasting legacy for both science and the planet.
Take Home Message
There you have it—Ross Edgley's 1000-mile swim around Iceland was a huge success, and we couldn't be prouder to be partnered with such a legend. Now, Ross is off recovering, which, for him, means continuing training. He is truly one of a kind. We can't wait to see what's next in store for the record-breaking swimmer.
A Rutgers University Honors graduate, Jamie grew up on the Jersey shore and double majored in Comparative Literature and Anthropology in college. Jamie is an experienced writer in the health and wellness, biotech, and eCommerce fields. She loves writing with a purpose and has even written for the Department of Justice.
Jamie became drawn to exercise during her time in university and began to notice the physical and mental benefits of moving your body daily. Today, Jamie enjoys Pilates, light weight training, and going on long walks in nature daily.
Jamie is also passionate about eating right and prioritizing gut health and immunity. She is always trying the next innovation in health and wellness. When she’s not writing articles, Jamie enjoys reading, playing guitar, and finding dogs to play with.
