08/10/2026
๐๐๐ด๐ผ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ข๐ป ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ด๐น๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐น ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ท
On 26 September 2026, Olympian Hugo took on one of open-water swimmingโs ultimate challenges โ the English Channel.
After 18 months of training, Hugo set off from Samphire Hoe at 11:24pm, facing rough seas, strong currents, darkness and a strengthening headwind.
Things quickly became difficult. His feeds repeatedly came back up, leaving his carefully planned nutrition strategy in tatters. For hours, he survived on little more than occasional sips of water and maltodextrin while continuing to swim.
But giving up was never an option.
Somewhere between hours five and six, Hugo said to himself:
โIโm getting this done.โ
Dawn eventually arrived and, after around 12 hours, the water began to change colour. France was getting closer.
For the final few hundred metres, crew member Erica joined him in the water.
โWeโre going to France!โ
Hugo put the foot downโฆ only to realise Erica was swimming breaststroke! ๐
Eventually, his hands hit the pebbles at Plage de Sangatte.
๐ฌ๐งโก๏ธ๐ซ๐ท 14 hours 37 minutes. English Channel swimmer.
A remarkable achievement and an incredible demonstration of physical and mental resilience.
Huge congratulations Hugo โ what a swim! ๐๐๐
And a massive thank you to his crew Erica, Maddy and Claire, who lived every moment of the crossing alongside him.
๐๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐, ๐๐๐ด๐ผ!
