Latest news with #HectorPardoe
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Olympic athlete swims length of Loch Lomond as he is named 'King of the Lakes' after record-breaking feat
Olympian Hector Pardoe swam the entire length of Loch Lomond in pitch black, and then the entire length of Windermere and Lake Bala to complete his epic '3 lakes challnege to raise awareness over polluted waterways. Olympic swimmer Hector Pardoe made a big splash through the night as he swam the entire length of Loch Lomond to raise funds and awareness around pollution of the country's natural waters. Hector, who has twice represented Team GB at the Olympics in Marathon Open Water Swimming, took on the Three Lakes Challenge for Surfers Against Sewage last week by swimming all three of the UK's largest lakes in just 24 hours. Setting off at midnight on Friday, August 1, he swam the loch in pitch black, before going on to swim Windermere and Lake Bala. Upon completion the opening leg of the lung-bursting challenge on Loch Lomond, Hector was congratulated by Dumbarton MP Douglas McAllister and Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie, who threw their support behind the campaign. After meeting Hector at the finishing line in Balloch, Mr McAllister said: 'I was delighted to meet Hector and congratulate him as he completed the first leg of his three lakes challenge in Balloch. 'After raising the issue of water pollution in our shores and on our beaches in Parliament, Surfers Against Sewage contacted me to invite me along to Loch Lomond to meet Hector at the finish line. 'An absolutely incredible feat and I'm so proud that he chose my constituency of West Dunbartonshire to complete the first leg of this gruelling challenge.' Hector first set off from Ardlui at midnight, completing the swim in seven hours and 46 minutes after battling freezing, pitch-black waters, all to demand cleaner and safer water. After Loch Lomond, Hector swam Lake Windermere in England, and finally, Lake Bala (Llyn Tegid) in Wales where he finished with some world records, and having raised vital funds and awareness in the fight against sewage pollution. Across the UK, rivers and lakes are being polluted by sewage. In 2024 alone, water companies dumped raw sewage into rivers and seas nearly 600,000 times – all while paying out £1.2 billion to shareholders. 'The UK Government is currently undergoing a major review into how our water industry is run in the most significant reform since privatisation', Mr McAllister added. 'I'm committed to continuing to advocate for Scottish Government action to clean up our rivers and our beaches.' The full swim was double the length of the English Channel and covered 34.5 miles of open water. Hector completed the challenge in under 22 hours, earning him the moniker of 'King of the Lakes'. The campaign is inspired by the 3 Peaks Challenge, whereby participants climb the three largest mountains of England, Scotland, and Wales in just 24 hours. Hector is aiming to raise £15,000 for Surfers Against Sewage to support the vital work they do to fight for clean water. To donate to Hector's effort, click here.
Daily Record
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Team GB Olympic swimmer to take on Loch Lomond as part of ‘3 Lake Challenge' in 'monumental feat'
Olympian Hector Pardoe will swim the length of Loch Lomond, Lake Windermere and Lake Bala in just 24-hours to raise funds and awareness against pollution in the UK's natural waters. A Team GB swimmer is set to embark upon an incredible '3 Lake Challenge' – where he'll swim the entire length of three bodies of water, including Loch Lomond, to raise awareness for a charity aiming to protect the UK's natural waters. Olympian Hector Pardoe, 24, will take on the 24-hour mission to swim the full length of Loch Lomond, Windermere and Lake Bala, all to highlight the work of Surfers Against Sewage and the need to protect the UK's natural waters. Cameron House, on the banks of the iconic loch, will welcome Hector and his support team when the challenge begins on Friday, August 1. The epic swim, which kicks off at midnight on Friday, will see him set off from Ardlui as Hector covers over 50km of open water in just one day, raising vital awareness for charity. Ahead of the lung-bursting challenge, Hector said: 'Loch Lomond is vast, remote and dark. It will be the most challenging part of the swim. But it's also the most beautiful, a reminder of exactly why we need to protect these wild places.' Hector is a two-time Olympian in Marathon Open Water Swimming, having won Britain's first World Medal in 13 years and finishing sixth in Paris last summer. He's aiming to raise £15,000 from the 24-hour effort and has set up an online donations page. On the page, Hector said: 'No one has ever completed this challenge successfully. This monumental feat will see me cover 34.5 miles of swimming, putting my limits to the ultimate test. 'This is almost twice the length of the English Channel. I'll be in the water for a minimum of 13 hours, battling conditions from the 14–15 degree waters of Loch Lomond in the pitch black where visibility will be zero, to the harsh, challenging winds of Lake Bala. Inspired by the traditional Three Peaks Mountain challenge, I wanted to create something just as iconic – but in the water.' On his chosen charity, he added: 'Across the UK, our rivers and lakes are being polluted by sewage and agricultural runoff, making them unsafe – not just for athletes like me, but for anyone who wants to enjoy them. 'It's more than an environmental issue; it's about health, access, opportunity, and national pride. In 2024, UK water companies paid out £1.2 billion to shareholders – while discharging raw sewage into our rivers and seas 592,478 times. The system is fundamentally broken. 'That's why I'm supporting a campaign to drive real change in how our water system is regulated and managed. We now face the biggest opportunity for reform in over three decades. A major government-led review into the water sector is underway – the most significant since privatisation. Crucially, sewage pollution has risen to the top of the national agenda, and there are now 81 active criminal investigations into water companies in England – the largest crackdown of its kind in history. 'I've grown up in open water. It's given me opportunities I could never have imagined – from swimming in my local mere as a kid to representing Great Britain on the World stage. But the waters that shaped me are now under threat.' Will Oakley, Managing Director of Cameron House Resort, said: 'We're thrilled to host Hector and his family at Cameron House, and to play a part in his remarkable journey. Loch Lomond is one of the most iconic stretches of water in the UK, and we're proud to see it take centre stage for such an important cause.' Loch Lomond will represent the largest stint of the challenge – measuring in at a 21-mile swim. The Lake Windermere leg measures 10.5-miles and he will complete the effort with a three-mile swim the length of Lake Bella. To donate to Hector's effort, click here.
Scotsman
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Cameron House welcomes Olympic swimmer Hector Pardoe as he embarks on epic ‘3 Lake Challenge' from Loch Lomond
Cameron House is proud to host Team GB Olympic Open Water Swimmer, Hector Pardoe and his crew to the banks of Loch Lomond as he launches his extraordinary '3 Lake Swim Challenge' - a 24-hour mission to swim the full length of Loch Lomond, Windermere, and Lake Bala. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The epic swim, which kicks off at midnight on Friday, August 1 from Ardlui on the shores of Loch Lomond, will see Hector cover over 50km of open water in just one day, raising vital awareness for Surfers Against Sewage and the urgent need to protect the UK's natural waters. The five-star resort is honoured to host Hector and his support team as they prepare for the most remote and demanding leg of the challenge at Loch Lomond. Cameron House staff will be cheering from the shoreline as Hector begins this powerful campaign under the stars, swimming through the night across Scotland's largest loch. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Will Oakley, Managing Director of Cameron House Resort, said: 'We're thrilled to host Hector and his family at Cameron House, and to play a part in his remarkable journey. Loch Lomond is one of the most iconic stretches of water in the UK, and we're proud to see it take centre stage for such an important cause.' Team GB Olympian, Hector Pardoe The 3 Lakes Challenge will also spotlight issues around clean water, sustainability, and the importance of preserving Scotland's natural environment. The campaign is supported by Jeep, who will provide a fleet of electric vehicles for Hector's crew throughout the 24-hour expedition. Olympian Hector Pardoe, said: 'Loch Lomond is vast, remote and dark. It will be the most challenging part of the swim. But it's also the most beautiful, a reminder of exactly why we need to protect these wild places.'
