ANDY DONALDSON

Andy is a Scottish-Australian marathon swimmer and a three-time world record holder with records including the fastest time to complete the Oceans Seven marathon swim challenge, and the fastest swim across the Cook Strait

Which of the seven oceans was the hardest and why?

For me, the Tsugaru Strait presented the most difficult challenge. As the final leg of a year-long campaign, I carried a considerable amount of physical and mental fatigue coming into it. Additionally, no one had successfully crossed the strait in 2023 out of 13 attempts. On the day, we experienced some really harsh conditions. And to make matters worse, I was vomiting within the first 30 minutes. Despite the challenges, my team and I persevered, ultimately triumphing against the odds.

What attracts you to long distance endurance swimming?

Long-distance swimming offers incredible opportunities to explore the world’s most beautiful waters, to have time alone with your own thoughts, and to connect with nature. Open water can be very unpredictable, and I enjoy testing myself and seeing how I respond to adversity.

Where do you like to train?

I’m most often found doing laps in the pool. Admittedly, the black line lacks the allure of being outdoors, but the pool offers a far more controlled environment for focused training and precise performance measurement.

How do you stay motivated when training for long distance?

Training for significant goals naturally involves both highs

Andy mostly trains in a pool

and lows; not every day will be your best. Here are a couple of tips I recommend: build a robust support system around you. Surround yourself with swimming companions who can uplift you during low moments and hold you accountable when motivation wanes. The encouragement from family and friends is pivotal. Secondly, I often align my swims with fundraising for causes close to my heart, adding purpose to my endeavours and providing an extra motivation to stay fired up and accomplish my goals.

What has swimming taught you?

There have been so many things I’ve learnt: how to set goals, how to deal with both victories and disappointment, and how to work effectively as part of a team. Success, as being something that extends beyond mere results, it’s equally measured in our conduct and attitude – if we gave something our best, could we really ask for more? And I’ve learned that it’s perfectly acceptable to seek help. We don’t have to go through life’s challenges alone. And when we realise this, we can achieve far more than we might have ever imagined.

What is your preferred nutrition on long swims?

A preferred choice is a mix of Precision Fuel and Hydration Gel, water, and a hydrolyte tablet. The combination provides the necessary carbohydrates and electrolytes for me.

Do you have a favourite training drill or piece of kit?

My go-to drill is single-arm freestyle. Given that the freestyle pull is the primary force behind forward propulsion in swimming, I consider this drill to be the most effective for breaking down the stroke. It allows us swimmers to hone in on the fundamentals of fingertip entry, early catch, and long use. As for equipment, nothing beats swimming with fins!

Your best advice for those training for a long swim?

Consider joining a group of swimmers with similar aspirations or seeking guidance from an experienced coach. The journey can be both daunting and overwhelming, and having a reliable support team makes the experience much easier to navigate.

What’s your focus for 2024?

My focus is to continue enjoying what I’m doing and connect with more incredible people. I’d love to swim around Manhattan Island in New York one day, and there are several other exciting swims on my radar. There’s one currently in the works that I hope to announce very soon.