British Ross Edgley Completes First Swim Around Iceland

British endurance athlete Ross Edgley made history as the first person to swim around the entire 1,000-mile coastline of Iceland, completing the grueling four-month challenge in September 2025. Facing freezing waters as cold as 3°C, killer whales, towering waves, and severe physical effects like wetsuit chafing and tongue damage from saltwater exposure, Edgley swam six hours daily, resting six hours on a support yacht. To withstand the harsh conditions, he consumed up to 15,000 calories a day and gained body fat for insulation, inspired by marine animals' blubber. His swim was not only an athletic feat but also a scientific expedition collaborating with institutions like the University of Iceland, collecting environmental DNA samples to study biodiversity and microplastic pollution. The journey received praise from actor Chris Hemsworth, who inspired the challenge and lauded Edgley for redefining endurance sport. Edgley's achievement builds on his previous feats, including swimming around Great Britain and a record non-stop river swim in Canada.