Neil Agius Sets New World Record with 140km Swim Around Malta, Championing Marine Conservation

September 24 2024 07:56:20 by PCLMedia

Neil Agius, a 38-year-old maltese ultra-endurance swimmer, clean seas activist, and former Olympian, has once again etched his name in the history books by setting a new world record for open-water swimming. After an astonishing 60 hours and 30 minutes of continuous swimming, Agius covered approximately 140 kilometers around the Maltese islands, culminating his incredible journey at Għar Lapsi on a challenging Monday night.

The Journey

Agius set off from Għadira Bay in Mellieħa early on Saturday morning, just after 9 a.m., accompanied by a team of young swimmers and supported by a dedicated crew of skippers, medical personnel, and volunteers. His planned route took him clockwise around Malta, before circling Gozo and continuing back toward Malta's southeast coast. Along the way, he battled worsening weather conditions, including rain, strong winds, currents, and increasing sea swells, which made the final stretch particularly grueling.

Despite these challenges, Agius remained determined, smashing his own previous world record of 125 km, which he set in 2021 during a historic swim from the island of Linosa to Gozo's Xlendi Bay. By the time he reached Marsaxlokk, after 52 hours in the water, he had already surpassed this prior feat. Initially aiming for a 160 km swim, Agius had to settle for 140 km due to the risks posed by the rough seas and the lack of safe landing sites along Malta's eastern coast.

The Arrival at Għar Lapsi

As he approached his finish line at Għar Lapsi, Agius was welcomed by a growing crowd of supporters, including Prime Minister Robert Abela, Sports Minister Clifton Grima, and Opposition MP David Agius. However, due to the rough waters near the shore, his support boat could not enter the bay. The gathered crowd helped guide Neil to safety using lights from the shore, while some swimmers went out to assist him without making physical contact, to ensure the integrity of his record.

At approximately 9:35 p.m., after nearly three consecutive days in the water, Neil Agius climbed out of the sea using a ladder, sat down for a brief moment, and was met with an eruption of cheers. Medical responders quickly wrapped him in blankets and conducted an initial health check before escorting him for a more detailed medical assessment.

His Motivations and Achievements

For Agius, the swim was about more than setting records. A passionate advocate for marine conservation, he partnered with NGOs such as Wave of Change and Żibel to raise awareness about the state of Malta’s marine environment. During his swim, the organizations coordinated multiple coastal clean-up initiatives, collecting nearly 800 kilograms of waste from various Maltese shores. Although the final clean-up event had to be postponed due to bad weather, the effort contributed significantly to local environmental activism, with all collected waste being sorted and repurposed for circular projects.

In interviews after his triumphant finish, Agius was visibly emotional. “The swim wasn’t for me; it was for Malta,” he told the press, expressing his pride in the Maltese people and their collective efforts to protect the sea. His swim was part of a broader initiative to promote cleaner seas and environmental sustainability, using his immense physical endurance to draw attention to issues affecting the marine ecosystem.

Olympian History and Legacy

Neil Agius's journey as an athlete began long before these world records. He represented Malta in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games as part of the national swimming team, competing in the 400m freestyle. Though he didn’t secure a medal, his participation laid the foundation for his future accomplishments in ultra-endurance swimming, where he found his true calling. Agius has since evolved into a symbol of resilience and a champion for environmental causes, using his platform to inspire change and advocate for the protection of Malta’s natural resources.

Agius’s record-breaking swims, particularly his 125 km and now 140 km feats, have positioned him as one of the leading figures in open-water endurance swimming worldwide. The World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA), the governing body for this sport, is expected to ratify his new record, solidifying his place in history.

A National Hero

As Agius was driven away to recover from his monumental achievement, the crowd in Għar Lapsi gave him a hero’s send-off, cheering and clapping. His words, "Viva Malta," echoed in the night as he left, not only as a world-record holder but as a national symbol of perseverance and dedication to both personal and environmental goals.

This achievement is a testament to Neil Agius’s incredible physical and mental strength, and to his commitment to using his talents for the greater good of his homeland. Through his record-breaking swim, Agius has not only advanced the boundaries of human endurance but has also inspired a nation to take greater care of its natural surroundings.