British endurance swimmer Ross Edgley made history today, becoming the first person to swim around the entire coastline of Iceland. He completed the 115-day journey when he came ashore in Nauthólsvík, Reykjavík, greeted by cheering supporters.
“This has been absolutely incredible and will be hard to ever top! But now I’m going to celebrate with my team – get a burger and a beer!” Edgley told National TV RÚV shortly after stepping onto land. Despite the enormous physical effort, he appeared full of energy and praised his support crew throughout the day.
Edgley said the greatest challenge was the cold. “It was amazing to swim past frozen fjords and look up at them. But when the wind came from the South Pole, it cut straight through to the bone. That kind of cold was probably the hardest challenge,” he told RÚV. Night swimming also tested his endurance, as did the loss of a small piece of his tongue to saltwater during the early stages of the journey.
Beyond the personal achievement, Edgley emphasized the scientific purpose of the expedition. Working with Iceland’s Marine & Freshwater Research Institute (Hafrannsóknarstofnun), he collected environmental DNA samples and microplastic data along the way. “If I didn’t do that, I’d just be a crazy Englishman swimming around Iceland. This way, it had real meaning – it was for science,” he explained.
Edgley, who previously swam around Great Britain in 2018 and down Canada’s Yukon River in 2024, hinted at future projects but admitted he may choose warmer waters next time. “People have mentioned Australia, but I think there are too many sharks there. Maybe I’ll swim somewhere sunnier, get a tan!” he laughed.
