Adam Walker

The First British Swimmer to Complete The Ocean Seven Challenge, Inspirational Speaker & Bestselling Author of “Man Vs Ocean”

Adam Walker’s Biography:

Adam Walker is an international motivational speaker, record-breaking open water marathon swimmer and author of the bestselling sports autobiography “Man Vs Ocean“. Known for his extraordinary endurance feats in some of the world’s most hostile waters, Adam’s story is one of resilience, calculated risk and relentless perseverance in the face of physical and mental adversity.

After graduating with a degree in Sports Science in 1999, Adam initially pursued a successful corporate career in sales, working for major blue-chip organisations including Coca-Cola and Nestlé, where he progressed rapidly into senior roles. Alongside his corporate career, he qualified as an ASA swimming coach, taught at his local pool and competed in water polo, gradually developing a deep technical understanding of swimming performance and endurance.

In 2007, Adam committed fully to open water marathon swimming, beginning training for his first English Channel crossing in support of Whale and Dolphin Conservation. This marked the start of an extraordinary athletic journey that would see him complete seven major channel swims, often in extreme conditions that included shark encounters, venomous jellyfish stings and severe injuries. Despite setbacks, including a ruptured bicep tendon requiring multiple surgeries, Adam continued to push the boundaries of human endurance.

Today, Adam runs Ocean Walker Ltd with his partner Gemma Clarke, delivering swimming coaching, training camps and keynote speaking programmes worldwide. Since beginning his speaking career in 2016, he has inspired global audiences with lessons on determination, mindset, leadership and goal-setting, supported by powerful real-life footage from his ocean swims. He is also an ambassador for the Royal Life Saving Society and Zoggs UK, combining elite sport, safety advocacy and personal development.

Why Hire Adam Walker?

Adam Walker brings an extraordinary combination of elite endurance achievement and real-world business experience, offering audiences powerful insights into resilience, mindset and performance under pressure. As the first British swimmer to complete the Oceans Seven Challenge and one of only a handful of people globally to achieve it, Adam speaks with authority on goal setting, perseverance and maintaining focus when conditions are at their most demanding.

His background in senior corporate roles allows him to translate extreme ocean challenges into highly relevant lessons for leadership, teamwork and personal growth. Through compelling storytelling and dramatic real-life footage from his swims, Adam delivers engaging, authentic keynotes that inspire audiences to embrace challenge, overcome fear and apply a growth mindset to both professional and personal goals.

Adam Walker’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Adam Walker’s inspirational career:

• 2025 – Hosted and coached the Maldives 5-Day Open Water Swim Camp, teaching the Ocean Walker Technique to international swimmers and supporting advanced endurance training in open water environments.
• 2016 – Began delivering keynote speeches internationally, sharing lessons from extreme endurance swimming with corporate, education and leadership audiences.
• 2014 – Launched Ocean Walker Ltd, expanding from open water swim camps into coaching, education and speaking.
• 2013 – Became a sports pundit, commentator and event host, working with organisations including Red Bull, Samsung, One Young World and the RLSS Open Water Festival.
• 2013 – Established brand partnerships and endorsements aligned with endurance sport, open water safety and performance.
• 2012 – Appointed swimming coach at Ocean Walker, a role he continues alongside elite coaching and mentoring.
• 2011 – Became the first British person to complete a two-way crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar.
• 2008 – Became the first British swimmer to complete the Oceans Seven Challenge, the open water swimming equivalent of the Seven Summits.
• 2008 – Achieved the Oceans Seven distinction as only the fifth person in the world at the time, raising significant funds for Whale and Dolphin Conservation.