UK and USA
Lewis Pugh is an endurance swimmer, maritime lawyer and UNEP’s Patron of the Oceans.
For nearly forty years, he has pioneered swims in some of the world’s most fragile environments, from the North Pole to Antarctica, from the Himalayas to the great rivers of the world. He was the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean.
Each expedition is undertaken to draw attention to places that are changing fast. His work played a pivotal role in the creation of the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area in Antarctica. To date, his campaigns have helped safeguard more than 3.5 million square kilometres of ocean – an area larger than western Europe.
In 2016, he established the Lewis Pugh Foundation to turn awareness into protection. The Foundation works to address the main threats facing the ocean: rising temperatures, pollution and the loss of biodiversity.
Lewis believes that protecting the natural world is one of the defining responsibilities of our time. And he believes that by protecting the ocean, we can help build peace and secure a safer future for all.
What inspired you to become an 11th Hour Racing ambassador?
I was drawn to 11th Hour Racing because they recognize both the urgency of the climate crisis and
the central role the ocean plays in planetary stability.
Their work combines science-based solutions with powerful storytelling, using sport and narrative to cut through a crowded and unpredictable news cycle. They have also brought together an impressive network of ambassadors who are deeply committed to ocean health.
This approach resonates deeply with our own model at the Lewis Pugh Foundation. We have seen how visible, disciplined action can open space for policy change, but lasting impact requires sustained partnerships and long-term commitment.
Why are you passionate about ocean conservation?
The ocean regulates our climate, produces much of the oxygen we breathe, and supports billions of people. Yet it is under unprecedented pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
I have witnessed melting glaciers, warming seas, and declining ecosystems firsthand during my swims. Those experiences make the crisis impossible to ignore. Protecting the ocean is essential for a peaceful and sustainable future.
Supporting the mission
Project name: Protecting our Oceans for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future
Project mission: We use endurance swims and advocacy to drive ocean protection, tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution worldwide.
