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Andy Donaldson (swimmer)

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Andrew Alan Donaldson
Personal information
NationalityBritish-Australian
Born10 February 1991
Irvine, Scotland, UK
Sport
CountryGreat Britain
SportMarathon Swimming
ClubCity of Perth Swimming Club
Coached byEoin Carroll, Ryan Evernden

Andrew Donaldson (born 10 February 1991 in Irvine, Scotland) is a Scottish-Australian marathon swimmer, motivational speaker, and mental health advocate. Donaldson is a three-time world record holder,[1] most notably for the fastest time to complete the Oceans Seven marathon swim challenge.[1]

On 19 September 2024, he broke the world record for the Manhattan Island Swim, completing the 45.9 km course in 5 hours, 41 minutes and 48 seconds.[2] He also holds the fastest swim across the Cook Strait - the waters between New Zealand's North and South Islands.[3][4][5]

Andrew was voted Man of the Year and Performance of the Year in the World Open Water Swimming Association awards for 2023.[6]

Early life and career

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Growing up in West Kilbride, Scotland, Donaldson started swimming with the North Ayrshire Amateur Swimming Club at age seven.[7] He attended Largs Academy for secondary school, then graduated from Loughborough University in 2012.[8] In 2013, he relocated to Perth, Western Australia to pursue professional swimming.[9][10]

After missing out on his Olympic aspirations, Donaldson retired from competitive swimming in 2016 to work in accounting and finance.[9] This period marked a challenging time for him, as he struggled with mental health issues. After completing his Chartered Accounting studies, Donaldson took a career break to backpack overseas.[11] At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was working as a volcano tour guide in Nicaragua.[9]

He returned to Perth in 2020 and rediscovered his passion for swimming, using it as a way to improve both his physical and mental well-being.[9] In Perth, Donaldson co-founded Swimclan with his mentor Martin Smoothy to assist adults in learning to swim, improve their health, and pursue personal goals.[12] This marked the beginning of his journey back into competitive open-water swimming, where he found new motivation and a renewed sense of purpose.

In 2021, Donaldson made a remarkable comeback, winning the 19.7 km Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia.[13][14] He continued to build on this momentum by setting a new record in the 34 km Derwent River Big Swim in Tasmania, and won the 25 km Palm Beach to Shelly Beach Swim in Sydney.[9]

Oceans Seven

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In August 2022, Donaldson announced his goal to complete the Oceans Seven challenge within a calendar year.[15] He successfully achieved this feat, becoming the first person in history to complete all seven swims in 355 days, setting multiple records along the way. Donaldson's challenge raised significant funds and awareness for the Black Dog Institute, highlighting the importance of mental health.[15][16]

His journey began with a record-breaking English Channel swim, completing the 33 km crossing in 8 hours,[17] setting a new British record.[18][19] He then went on to become the first Scottish male to complete the swim between the North Channel,[7] crossing from Ireland to Scotland in 9 hours and 14 minutes.[20] In New Zealand, Donaldson broke the world record for the Cook Strait, finishing the 22 km swim in 4 hours and 33 minutes.[3][4][5]

Donaldson overcame numerous challenges, including extreme weather conditions and physical exhaustion, to complete the seven swims. His swim across the Molokai Channel in Hawaii, which lasted over 15 hours, ended with him being hospitalised due to severe throat swelling.[21][22] Despite this, he persisted and went on to break the British record for the Strait of Gibraltar and Catalina Channel swims, solidifying his place among the world's elite marathon swimmers. After successfully crossing Japan's Tsugaru Strait in July 2023, Donaldson completed the Oceans Seven challenge.[23]

Swims of the Oceans Seven
Date Swim Route Distance Time Remarks
2022-08-07 English Channel England to France 33 km 08:00:00 [17] British record
2022-09-19 North Channel Ireland to Scotland 34 km 09:13:57 [20] British record
2023-03-07 Cook Strait South Island to North Island (New Zealand) 22 km 04:33:50 [4] World record
2023-04-18 Kaiwi Channel Molokai to Oahu (USA) 45 km 15:51:00 [22]
2023-05-20 Strait of Gibraltar Spain to Morocco 14.4 km 02:56:00 [24] British record
2023-07-11 Catalina Channel Catalina Island to Los Angeles (USA) 32.3 km 09:22:52 [25] British record
2023-07-27 Tsugaru Strait Honshu to Hokkaido (Japan) 19.5 km 13:04:30 [23]

World Records Broken

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  • Fastest Swim Across the Cook Strait: Completed in 4 hours 33 minutes 50 seconds on 8 March 2023.[4]
  • Fastest Completion of the Oceans Seven (Calendar Duration): Completed in 355 days between 7 August 2022 and 27 July 2023.[1]
  • Fastest Completion of the Oceans Seven (Cumulative Swim Time): Achieved a total swim time of 63 hours, 2 minutes, and 9 seconds.[1]
  • Fastest Circumnavigation of Manhattan Island: Completed in 5 hours, 41 minutes, and 48 seconds in 2024.[26]

Epic Swim Maui

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In July 2024, Donaldson participated in the inaugural Epic Swim Maui, becoming one of the first swimmers to complete the 220 km circumnavigation of Maui over 14 days.[27] This historic expedition aimed to raise awareness for ocean health and sustainability. As a passionate advocate for ocean conservation, Donaldson used this opportunity to draw attention to the importance of preserving marine environments.

Manhattan Island Swim

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In September 2024, Donaldson broke the world record for circumnavigating Manhattan Island, completing the 45.9 km swim in 5 hours, 41 minutes, and 48 seconds. This achievement further cemented his status as one of the world's greatest marathon swimmers.

Charity Work and Advocacy

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Donaldson is a dedicated advocate for mental health, sustainability, and the sport of swimming. He uses his swims as platforms to raise awareness and funds for various causes, particularly mental health. His Oceans Seven campaign raised significant funds for the Black Dog Institute, and he has supported other mental health organisations, including the Kai Fella Foundation.

In October 2023, Donaldson successfully completed a 33 km swim from Rottnest Island to Elizabeth Quay in Perth, raising money for Telethon and the Perron Institute for Neurological Science.[28] Through his advocacy, he aims to inspire others to combine sport with a sense of purpose.

Sources

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  1. ^ a b c d "Scots swimmer breaks record for Oceans Seven challenge". BBC News. 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  2. ^ "Scottish-Australian athlete Andy Donaldson 'beats record for swimming around Manhattan island'". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  3. ^ a b "Scottish swimmer sets record between New Zealand islands". BBC News. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  4. ^ a b c d Scottish swimmer breaks Cook Strait world record, 2023-03-21, retrieved 2023-07-21
  5. ^ a b Sahu, Tanisha Rachel (2023-03-23). "Scottish Swimmer Creates World Record By Swimming In Shark Infested Waters Across Cook Strait". Le Matinal. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  6. ^ WOWSA (2024-02-08). "Press Release: World Open Water Swimming Association Celebrates the 2023 WOWSA Awards Winners". World Open Water Swimming Association. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  7. ^ a b "Marathon swimmer from West Kilbride overcomes 'butt-cheek' cramp to cross North Channel". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  8. ^ "Loughborough alumnus takes on charity swim challenge". Loughborough University. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Perth marathon swimmer attempts epic channel-crossing record". The West Australian. 2022-07-09. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  10. ^ "Relative newcomer smashes his rivals". The Albany Advertiser. 2015-04-13. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  11. ^ "Sharks, jellyfish, and world records: Meet the Scot who swam seven channel crossings". The Herald. 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  12. ^ "Adults coached to brave water". Community News. 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  13. ^ "'Retired' Rotto winner on how he clinched big finish". The West Australian. 2021-02-20. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  14. ^ "Rottnest Channel Swim winners crowned". PerthNow. 2021-02-20. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  15. ^ a b "Inspiring CA's global swim for mental health". Acuity Magazine.
  16. ^ Whyte, Abigail (2023-04-04). "Andy Donaldson: Flying the flag for mental health". Outdoor Swimmer Magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  17. ^ a b Munatones, Steven (2022-08-07). "Andy Donaldson Crosses English Channel in 8 Hours, First Leg of His Oceans Seven Challenge". World Open Water Swimming Association. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  18. ^ "Why swim the world's most dangerous seas? For mental health -- let Andy Donaldson explain". ESPN.com. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  19. ^ "Scot sets new record for swimming the English Channel". The Scotsman.
  20. ^ a b WOWSA (2022-09-30). "Andy Donaldson Completes a Fast Crossing of the North Channel". World Open Water Swimming Association. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  21. ^ "Oceans Seven helps turn the tide on mental health". The West Australian. 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  22. ^ a b "West Kilbride swimmer rushed to hospital after smashing Hawaii charity crossing". Largs and Millport Weekly News. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  23. ^ a b Whyte, Abigail (2023-08-01). "Andy Donaldson has smashed the Oceans Seven!". Outdoor Swimmer Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  24. ^ WOWSA (2023-05-30). "Andrew Alan Donaldson Conquers the Strait of Gibraltar in Record Time". World Open Water Swimming Association. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  25. ^ "West Kilbride swimmer on verge of completing global charity challenge". Largs and Millport Weekly News. 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  26. ^ "Scots swimmer Andy Donaldson sets world record for swimming around Manhattan Island". The Herald. 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  27. ^ "Epic Swim Maui Team Combines Swimming with Science – Daily News of Open Water Swimming". dailynewsofopenwaterswimming.com. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  28. ^ SarahJee_GWTB (2023-12-08). "Huge thanks to Andy Donaldson!". Kai-Fella. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
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