British Man Lewis Gordon Pugh First to Swim at the Geographic North Pole

On July 15, Lewis Gordon Pugh of Britain reported that he swam for almost 19 minutes in Speedo briefs, a cap and goggles at the Geographic North Pole in water that reaches temperatures of minus 1.8 degrees centrigade. Pugh became the first man to swim at the Geographic North Pole located at 90 degrees north. Pugh, known as the Polar Bear, holds previous records for his prior swims in freezing waters including a record-making swim at the South Pole in 2005.

Pugh decided to swim at the North Pole to draw attention to climate change. The very fact that Pugh was able to swim at the North Pole in its frigid waters reflects changing climate patterns. A sustained rise in temperature has resulted in long stretches of open seas. Pugh hoped world leaders in the future would make decisions that would protect biodiversity, including the natural habitat of the North Pole's native swimmers--- polar bears.

By swimming in the frigid waters, Pugh endured nearly 20 minutes of pain and the possibility of death. Accompanied by fellow explorer Jorgen Amundsen, a descendant of the first man to walk on the South Pole, Pugh trained for months and traveled to the North Pole to find a patch of open sea in which to swim. For Pugh, the swim was both frightening and painful. Pugh remembers plunging into black water after shaking Amundsen's hand. Likening it to black hole, he felt immediate pain. His body wracked with a fire like feeling and excruciating pain, Pugh struggled to complete his swim.

Pugh succeeded in becoming the first man to swim at the Geographic North Pole. While pleased with his success, Pugh viewed it as tragic that weather conditions had made it possible for his feat. Amundsen shared his sense of loss when he remarked that the contemporary Arctic with its stretches of open sea would be unrecognizable to their forefather explorers.

In preparation for the trip, Pugh undertook numerous other swims and engaged the services of experts. David Becker served as Pugh's mind coach. An expert from the University of Cape Town, Tim Noakes helped prepare him for the coldest water ever to be swam in by a human. Prior to embarking on this quest, the 37- year old Pugh had already swam long distance in all five world oceans, swam in the Barents Sea, Norway's fjords and the South Pole.

Pugh's feat draws the world's attention to the power of the human mind and body, and hints at the possibilities that could arise out of people turning their attention to the problems of climate change.

Source:
First Human to Swim at the Geographic North Pole; Lewis Pugh Completes the Investec North Pole Challenge, http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-15-2007/0004625651&EDATE=