Ultra-marathon endurance swimmer Ross Edgley has successfully completed a staggering 510km without stopping, sleeping or touching land. The challenge was completed over 62 hours in Yukon, Canada.
According to the challenge’s supporter, PhD Nutrition… ‘This signifies a momentous achievement for both Ross and the field of sports science, setting new parameters on the limits of the human body.’
Edgely took to Yukon River, leaving Whitehorse on Lake Laberge on Sunday, June 16, 2024, and finished in Dawson City on June 19th. Throughout the challenge, he overcame an array of obstacles ranging from sleep deprivation (awake for 60+ hours) to water temperatures around 9°C (48°F).
Swimming in one of the planet’s most remote regions, Edgley also needed to manage external factors such as bears, wolves, white water rapids, log jams and even forest fires.
Following his swim Ross Edgley said “The success of this swim feels especially significant given it is pioneering research into the body’s ability to overcome sleep deprivation, freezing water and so many more factors.
“The sheer number of hours, days, months and years we have devoted make this feel unique and I cannot wait to celebrate with my team.”
Warning… image of foot post-challenge not a particularly pleasant sight!
The feat is the culmination over two years of sports science research, taking Ross Edgley and his team from the lab to a multitude of destinations. These include Loch Ness, where he completed a 53 hours swim in water as cold as 5°C, to Lake Trasimeno where he completed a 107km swim in temperatures exceeding 45°C.
Ahead of Yukon, Edgley also completed a 140km pool swim in Mallorca, made possible using a nutrient-dense diet supported by PhD Nutrition and comprising of Super Greens, multi-vitamins, Omega 3, Nootropics and Vitamin D3.
The extreme, nutrient rich diet is in itself a feat for the human digestive system, with Edgley working closely with the PhD Nutrition team through his challenges to evaluate the limits of the human body. As an official nutrition partner, PhD supported the ultra distance athlete and equipped him with PhD products to meet his extensive nutritional needs.
Ross Edgley consumed a mix of:
- PhD Smart Bars – which provide 20g of protein per bar and contribute to achieving optimal protein intake.
- PhD Super greens – with a mix sufficient vitamins, minerals and polyphenols to support physical performance, as well as supporting overall health and immunity.
- PhD Smart breakfast – offering a rich source of protein to support muscle mass. Probiotics content also contributes to a healthy digestive tract.
