Sean Conway (swimmer)
Sean Conway (born 1981) is a Zimbabwean endurance adventurer, author and motivational speaker, who became the first person to cycle, swim, and run the length of Great Britain, from Land's End to John o'Groats. In 2016 he completed the world's longest triathlon, a 4,200 mile journey around the coast of Britain.
Sean Conway | |
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Conway on 22 August 2013, during his Swimming Britain challenge | |
Born | |
Occupation | Adventurer |
Known for | First person to swim the length of Great Britain & record for world’s longest continuous triathlon of 4200 miles. |
Early years
Conway was born in Harare, Zimbabwe[1][2] on 6 April 1981.[1][3] He later attended Hilton College in South Africa.[4] He lived in Cheltenham[3] for a number of years before moving to the Lake District in 2016. In 2020 he moved to Wales.
He earns his living as an adventurer, author and public speaker.[5][6]
Swimming
Starting on 30 June 2013, Conway set out to swim from Land's End in the south-west of Great Britain, to John o'Groats, in the north, travelling up the west coast of Great Britain and via the east coast of Ireland.[7] He completed the swim on 11 November,[3] the first person to do so,[2][3][7] having swum 900 miles (1,400 km), in 135 days, 90 of which were spent in the water, the others avoiding contrary tides, resting, and avoiding bad weather,[3] sometimes ashore and sometimes on his support yacht.[2][7] He grew a thick beard to help prevent jellyfish stinging his face.[3]
He used the achievement to raise money for the charity War Child.[3]
Triathlon
Sean Conway became the first person to complete an "ultimate triathlon" when he finished running from John O'Groats to Land's End,[8] having already cycled and swum the entire way before. The run was made into a two-part documentary called Sean Conway:Running Britain for Discovery Channel UK. Sean Conway completed the "ultimate triathlon" unsupported, without the support of a team and lifeboats.[9]
Bibliography
References
- Conway, Sean. "Sean". Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- "Sean Conway becomes first to swim length of UK". The Guardian. Press Association. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- "Land's End to John O'Groats swimmer Sean Conway reaches end". BBC Online. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- "OH swims length of Britain". Hilton College. Archived from the original on 23 July 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- Conway, Sean. "My life as a photographer". Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- Conway, Sean. "Talks - Sean Conway - Endurance Adventuring". Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- de Castella, Tom (12 November 2013). "Sean Conway: How hard is it to swim the length of Britain?". BBC Online. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- "Adventurer ends 'ultimate triathlon'". 2015-05-04. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- Adventure, Homegrown. "The World's Longest Triathlon". Homegrown Adventure. Retrieved 2019-04-25.