Andy Donaldson

Andrew Donaldson (born 10 February 1991 in Irvine, Scotland) is a Scottish-Australian marathon swimmer. Donaldson is a three-time world record holder[1] with records including the fastest time to complete the Oceans Seven marathon swim challenge,[1] and the fastest swim across the Cook Strait - the waters between New Zealand's North and South Islands.[2][3][4]

Early life and career

Growing up in West Kilbride, Scotland, Donaldson started swimming with the North Ayrshire Amateur Swimming Club at age seven.[5] Donaldson attended Largs Academy for secondary school, then graduated from Loughborough University in 2012.[6] In 2013, he relocated to Perth, Western Australia to pursue professional swimming.[7][8]

After falling short of his Olympic aspirations, he retired from swimming in 2016 to work in accounting and finance.[7] Following struggles with his mental health, Donaldson took a career break to backpack overseas.[9] At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was working as a volcano tour guide in Nicaragua.[7]

He returned to Perth and to swimming in 2020. He found that the sport helped him with his mental well-being.[7] In Perth, Donaldson co-founded Swimclan with his mentor Martin Smoothy to assist adults in learning to swim, to improve their health, and to pursue goals.[10]

In 2021, he placed first in the 19.7km Rottnest Channel Swim.[11][12] In 2022, he set a new record in the 34km Derwent River Big Swim in Tasmania, and won the 25km Palm Beach to Shelly Beach Swim.[7]

Oceans Seven

In 2022, Donaldson announced that he would embark on the Oceans Seven challenge.[13] Donaldson's goal was to complete the challenge in one year [14] to raise money for the Black Dog Institute and awareness for mental health.[13][15] He was nominated for the World Open Water Swimming Association's Man of the Year 2022.[16]

Donaldson crossed the English Channel in eight hours.[17] Donaldson set the British record for the swim.[18][19] He became the first Scottish male to complete the swim between the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland).[5][20] In New Zealand, Donaldson set a new world record for fastest swim across the Cook Strait in four hours thirty-three minutes. [2][3][4]

Donaldson was hospitalised after completing the Molokai Channel. He faced strong waves and headwinds during this swim.[21][22] He set a new British record for his swim of the Strait of Gibraltar with a time of two hours and fifty-six minutes.[23] In Los Angeles, he overcame illness to complete the Catalina Channel in nine hours twenty-two minutes.[24] After successfully crossing Japan's Tsugaru Strait in July 2023, Donaldson completed the Oceans Seven challenge.[25]

Swims of the Oceans Seven
Date Swim Route Distance Time Remarks
2022-08-07 English Channel England to France 33km 08:00:00 [17] British record
2022-09-19 North Channel Ireland to Scotland 34km 09:13:59 [20] British record
2023-03-07 Cook Strait South Island to North Island (New Zealand) 22km 04:33:50 [3] World record
2023-04-18 Kaiwi Channel Molokai to Oahu (USA) 45km 15:51:00 [22]
2023-05-20 Strait of Gibraltar Spain to Morocco 14.4km 02:56:00 [23] British record
2023-07-11 Catalina Channel Catalina Island to Los Angeles (USA) 32.3km 09:22:52 [24] British record
2023-07-27 Tsugaru Strait Honshu to Hokkaido (Japan) 19.5km 13:04:30 [25]

World Records

  • The fastest male (and person overall) to swim across the Cook Strait, between New Zealand's North and South Islands in 4:33:50 on 8 March 2023.[3]
  • The fastest time to complete the Oceans Seven swimming challenge (calendar duration) in 355 days between 7 August 2022 and 27 July 2023.[1]
  • The fastest time to complete the Oceans Seven swimming challenge (cumulative swim time) is 63:02:09 between 7 August 2022 and 27 July 2023.[1]

Sources

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Scots swimmer breaks record for Oceans Seven challenge". BBC News. 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  2. 1 2 "Scottish swimmer sets record between New Zealand islands". BBC News. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Scottish swimmer breaks Cook Strait world record, 2023-03-21, retrieved 2023-07-21
  4. 1 2 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.
  5. 1 2 "Marathon swimmer from West Kilbride overcomes 'butt-cheek' cramp to cross North Channel". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  6. ↑ "Loughborough alumnus takes on charity swim challenge". Loughborough University. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Perth marathon swimmer attempts epic channel-crossing record". The West Australian. 2022-07-09. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  8. ↑ "Relative newcomer smashes his rivals". The Albany Advertiser. 2015-04-13. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  9. ↑ "Sharks, jellyfish, and world records: Meet the Scot who swam seven channel crossings". The Herald. 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  10. ↑ "Adults coached to brave water". Community News. 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  11. ↑ "'Retired' Rotto winner on how he clinched big finish". The West Australian. 2021-02-20. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  12. ↑ "Rottnest Channel Swim winners crowned". PerthNow. 2021-02-20. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  13. 1 2 "Inspiring CA's global swim for mental health". Acuity Magazine.
  14. ↑ Ryan, Suzie (2023-01-17). "Andy Donaldson To Conquer The Ocean's Seven In One Year". oceanswims.com. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  15. ↑ Whyte, Abigail (2023-04-04). "Andy Donaldson: Flying the flag for mental health". Outdoor Swimmer Magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  16. ↑ "West Kilbride man up for international swimming award". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  17. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 "West Kilbride swimmer rushed to hospital after smashing Hawaii charity crossing". Largs and Millport Weekly News. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  23. 1 2 WOWSA (2023-05-30). "Andrew Alan Donaldson Conquers the Strait of Gibraltar in Record Time". World Open Water Swimming Association. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  24. 1 2 "West Kilbride swimmer on verge of completing global charity challenge". Largs and Millport Weekly News. 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  25. 1 2 Whyte, Abigail (2023-08-01). "Andy Donaldson has smashed the Oceans Seven!". Outdoor Swimmer Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
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