Olympian swims '3 peaks' in pollution campaign

Olympic swimmer Hector Pardoe has become the first person to swim the largest lakes in England, Scotland and Wales inside 24 hours.

The 24-year-old world bronze medallist swam the lengths of Lake Windermere, Loch Lomond and Lake Bala [Llyn Tegid] and a total of 55km (34 miles).

It was a challenge inspired by the popular Three Peaks walking challenge with the aim of raising money and awareness of water pollution in the UK.

"The UK is amazing at so many different sports but we're lagging so far behind as one of the worst nations in Europe for water cleanliness and safety," he said.

Wrexham-born swimmer Pardoe, part of Team GB at the Tokyo and Paris Games, has so far raised nearly £8,000 for Surfers Against Sewage.

But he believes water quality in the UK is a source of national shame having faced many bouts of illness throughout his open-water swimming career.

Illnesses from bacteria such as E. coli, commonly caused by sewage in the water, have become all too regular. Water quality monitors providing real-time data were used during his three-lake swim.

It is why he insists it is important to use his platform "for something bigger than just winning a medal".

"Sport is a thing of national pride and we're one of the best nations per capita across the world," he said.

"We're always finishing inside of the top five in the Olympic Games but we're lagging behind in many areas of water pollution.

"I was fortunate enough to start open water swimming when I was 12 but we're seeing a constant closure of open water venues across the country," he said.

"More and more rivers, lakes are being deemed unsafe to swim due to sewage discharge.

"I have to take all sorts of precautions, like a shot of Pepto-Bismol before and after every swim," he said.

"I use precautionary antibiotics and have to clean my face and hands immediately after getting out of the water before touching anything."

Hector Pardoe won bronze in the 10km open water swim at the 2024 World Championships in Doha

Pardoe believes his training venue of Lago d'Orta in northern Italy is an example of what can be achieved..

"Industry meant this was one of the most polluted lakes in all of Italy about 50 years ago. There was very little marine life and it was pretty much considered filthy," he said.

"But there was a project to clean it up and now it's one of the cleanest lakes in the country. The water is stunning and such an amazingly powerful story."

In completing the challenge, Pardoe broke the record for crossing Loch Lomond, knocking an hour and a half off James Leitch's previous best mark in 2012 to swim end-to-end in seven hours and 46 minutes.

"I looked at the three peaks in terms of climbing mountains and thought, 'why don't I do the swimming version?' So that's where it came together," he said.

There are more challenges planned. He aims to beat the record for circumnavigating Manhattan Island, a relay swim along the River Thames and even the "crown jewel" of open-water swimming.

That will see Pardoe aim to swim the furthest distance unassisted by breaking the current record of 104 miles (168km).

But this all just part of training towards swimming for gold in the 10km open water event at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

He said: "I'm already planning the biggest swim of my life [but] doing these swims and challenges, they're all building up to LA and I never want to do a challenge that would take away from preparing for that."