Ross Edgley

Guinness World Record Holder for The ‘First Staged Swim Around Britain’, Sunday Times Bestselling Author of ‘The Art of Resilience’ & Co-Founder of The Protein Works

Ross Edgley’s Biography:

Ross Edgley is an extreme endurance athlete, bestselling author, and adventure speaker best known as the first person to swim all the way around Great Britain. His 1,780-mile sea swim redefined the limits of human endurance and established him as one of the world’s leading voices on resilience, mindset and physical performance. Ross blends sports science, humour and lived experience to deliver powerful talks on pushing boundaries and building unbreakable mental strength.

Ross’s journey into extreme sport began with a background in sports science, which he applied in increasingly ambitious endurance challenges. Before his historic sea swim, he gained attention for feats such as completing a marathon while pulling a car and climbing a rope to the height of Mount Everest, both in aid of charity. These challenges combined scientific experimentation with mental grit, shaping his reputation as an athlete who tests both body and mind in extraordinary ways.

In 2018, Ross completed his most famous achievement: swimming around the entire coastline of Great Britain in 157 days, covering nearly 1,800 miles. Battling jellyfish stings, salt sores and extreme weather, he broke the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest staged sea swim. That same year, he also set records swimming the length of the English Channel and completing endurance swims across the UK, earning global recognition within the open water swimming community.

Alongside his athletic career, Ross is a bestselling author and entrepreneur. He co-founded The Protein Works and has written acclaimed books, including ‘The World’s Fittest Book’ and ‘The Art of Resilience’, sharing the science and psychology behind extreme performance. Through his speaking, writing and media work, Ross inspires audiences to rethink limits, embrace discomfort and build resilience in both sport and life.

Why Hire Ross Edgley?

Ross is hired as a speaker for his extraordinary real-world understanding of resilience under extreme pressure. His experiences pushing the human body to its limits provide unforgettable metaphors for leadership, teamwork and mental toughness. He translates complex sports science into simple, practical lessons that help individuals and organisations build endurance, adaptability and grit.

His storytelling is vivid, humorous and deeply human, making his keynotes both inspiring and highly relatable. Alongside his athletic achievements, Ross is also a writer for a number of leading publications including GQ, Men’s Health and The Telegraph, further showcasing his ability to communicate performance and resilience insights to wide audiences. Attendees leave with a renewed belief in what they are capable of, along with clear strategies for performing through challenge, uncertainty and change.

Ross Edgley’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Ross Edgley’s inspirational career:

• 2026 – Partnered with Gymshark-style performance brand Gym King on the launch of the Stoic Collection 2.0.
• 2023 – Set a world record for the longest non-stop river swim after completing a 317-mile swim along Canada’s Yukon River, reinforcing his status as a leading figure in extreme endurance swimming.
• 2020 – Published his second bestselling book The Art of Resilience, exploring the mindset and science behind overcoming extreme physical and mental challenges.
• 2018 – Became the first person to swim all the way around Great Britain, completing 1,780 miles in 157 days in what became the world’s longest staged sea swim.
• 2018 – Set a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest staged sea swim during his historic Great Britain challenge.
• 2018 – Named Swim of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association for his unprecedented coastal swim.
• 2018 – Published his first book The World’s Fittest Book, combining adventure stories with fitness science and training philosophy.
• 2016 – Completed The World’s Strongest Marathon by pulling a car for the full 26.2-mile distance to raise money for charity.
• 2016 – Achieved The World’s Longest Rope Climb, ascending the equivalent height of Mount Everest in a single continuous effort.
• 2015 – Ran the London Marathon while pulling a Mini Countryman, gaining national attention for his extreme strength-endurance challenge.
• 2014 – Completed a strongman-style triathlon that included carrying a tree during the cycling stage, showcasing his creative approach to extreme fitness feats.