SEAN CONWAY – A TRUE LIFE FORREST GUMP

Sean Conway (born 1981) is a Zimbabwean endurance adventurer, author and motivational speaker, who became the first person to swim the length of Great Britain, from Land’s End to John o’Groats.

Starting on 30 June 2013, Conway set out to swim from Land’s End in the south-west of Great Britain, to John o’Groats, in the north, travelling up the west coast of Great Britain and via the east coast of Ireland. He completed the swim on 11 November, the first person to do so, having swum 900 miles (1,400 km), in 135 days, 90 of which were spent in the water, the others avoiding contrary tides, resting, and avoiding bad weather, sometimes ashore and sometimes on his support yacht. He grew a thick beard to help prevent jellyfish stinging his face. He used the achievement to raise money for the charity War Child.

Sean also became the first person to complete an “ultimate triathlon” when he finished running from John O’Groats to Land’s End. He had already cycled and swum the entire way before.