Lewis Pugh

Who is Lewis Pugh?

Lewis William Gordon Pugh, OIG is an ocean advocate, a maritime lawyer and a pioneer swimmer.

He is often described as the "Sir Edmund Hillary of swimming." He was the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean of the world. and he frequently swims in vulnerable ecosystems to draw attention to their plight. Pugh is best known for undertaking the first swim across the North Pole in 2007 to highlight the melting of the Arctic sea ice. In 2010 he swam across a glacial lake on Mount Everest to draw attention to the melting of the glaciers in the Himalayas, and the impact the reduced water supply will have on world peace. In 2014 he became the first person to complete a long distance swim in all the Seven Seas, a campaign he undertook to urge nations to create more Marine Protected Areas.

Pugh is a leading figure in efforts to protect the oceans. In 2010 he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum for his "potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world through inspiring leadership." And in 2013 the United Nations Environment Programme appointed him "Patron of the Oceans".