A host of famous faces have come together to celebrate 40 years of Swimathon as the world’s biggest annual pool-based fundraising swim looks to recruit swimmers for its anniversary year.
Broadcasters Ayo Akinwolere, Dr Ranj, Dermot O’Leary, Tim Lovejoy and Kate Thornton have joined athletes Alice Dearing, Michael Gunning, Giles Long, Nell McAndrew, Cassandra Patten, Lauren Steadman, Emily Steel and Swimathon President Duncan Goodhew in celebrating four decades of swimming success as the initiative rallies swimmers across the country to take part in its upcoming events across nearly 500 pools in March this year.
Inspired by the success of the London Marathon, Swimathon began in 1986 as an initiative to increase participation in London’s local authority swimming pools. Piloted across 12 London pools, the event adopted a 5,000-metre distance and raised an unexpected £70,000 for charity.
Following the successful pilot, Swimathon officially re-launched a year later and the next event was held in March 1988, with a team option added. It raised over £680,000, securing Swimathon’s place in the UK sporting calendar and confirming its commitment to fundraising.
With momentum building, organisers set their sights on national expansion and from 1991 onwards, Swimathon grew to become a truly national event across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with additional distances included. This era – and beyond – saw growing participation, extensive media coverage and high-profile support. Fundraising rose year on year, with some annual totals exceeding £2 million for leading UK charities, and end of life charity Marie Curie came on board as a long-term charity partner in 2007. The current partnership between Swimathon, Marie Curie and Cancer Research UK has been in place since 2018.
Swimathon is now the world’s largest annual pool-based fundraising swim, having brought together more than 750,000 participants and raised over £55 million for good causes.
Nearly 40 years after its initial pilot, Swimathon will again take place from 20 to 22 March 2026. Participants can sign up as an individual, or form a team, and take on a distance that suits.
Speaking about their own experiences of swimming and Swimathon, this year’s supporting athletes and celebrities shared messages of congratulations and good wishes for the celebratory year:
British and Jamaican competitive swimmer, television presenter, and advocate for diversity and inclusion in sport, new Swimathon Celebrity Supporter Michael Gunning, said: “After a long professional career spent in the swimming pool, I’m incredibly proud to join the 40th anniversary celebrations for Swimathon this year. Swimming has been a huge part of my life and continues to be, but what I remember most is how it brings people together, creating a real sense of community around a shared goal. I’ve loved meeting and working with some of the participants who’ve already been training so hard this year, and I can’t wait to see everyone come together for this milestone event in March. If you’re thinking of getting involved, go for it! There’s a Swimathon challenge for everyone, and I know you’ll experience the fun and benefits that swimming has given me for decades, whilst raising money for incredible charities.”
Broadcaster, podcaster and former Blue Peter presenter, Ayo Akinwolere, who set two world records back in 2011 for swimming the Palau Trench – one of the deepest stretches of water on the planet – said: “I learnt to swim at the age of 28, which is around the time I did my first Swimathon. Swimming has reshaped a lot in my life – it’s become part of my weekly exercise routine. I really enjoy it and look forward to it now. I’m grateful to have learned such an amazing life skill. Big up to everyone who’s having a go and taking part in this anniversary year!”
Paralympic champion, Lauren Steadman, said: “I am super excited to be taking part in Swimathon this year! Happy 40th anniversary Swimathon, good luck to everyone taking on the challenge and I hope everyone has lots of fun!”
BBC’s Emily Steel, aka Dynamite, said: “Swimming is such a huge part of my life, I swam competitively for 10 years and it has got me to where I am today. Good luck to everyone taking on the Swimathon challenge – it’s for an amazing cause and I can’t wait to see how everyone does!”
Presenter, Tim Lovejoy, said: “I was 12 years old when Duncan Goodhew won his Olympic gold medal and became a national hero so I couldn’t believe it when we both ended up in a pool together for 2013’s Swimathon! It was great fun and we raised an astonishing £2.4m alone which contributed to the outstanding £55 million the event has raised over the past forty years. I’m really proud to have been involved in an event with such an impressive legacy and I wish everyone taking part this year the best of luck!”
BAFTA award-winning presenter and doctor, Dr Ranj, said: “I didn’t get a chance to learn to swim as a child, but I’ve been learning as an adult and it is hands down one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only is it good for my physical health, but it’s great for my mental wellbeing too. Swimathon’s 40th anniversary is a brilliant way to challenge yourself, whilst also fundraising for amazing charities during a very special year.”
Model, presenter and fitness trainer, Nell McAndrew, said: “The energy surrounding Swimathon when I was involved in the early 2000s was fantastic and I was so proud to play a small part in something so big, having seen it evolve from a simple race into a massive force for good. To every swimmer who has taken part over the last four decades: you are the heart of this legacy. Here’s to the next 40 years of making history.”
Team GB Olympian, diversity and inclusion advocate, and co-founder of The Black Swimming Association, swimmer Alice Dearing, said: “To me swimming is a life skill which has shaped my life and given me the most amazing experiences and opportunities. It is a skill which all should learn and I hope we can encourage each other to get into the water safely and swim. My favourite swimming memories are the moments when I have swam on holiday and just floated in the ocean, getting to be at one with the water. However, in my competitive career, competing at the Olympics is my highlight! A huge “Happy 40th Anniversary” to Swimathon. Its impact has been incredible and long may it last!”
Three-time Paralympic gold medallist, Giles Long, said: “Swimathon is just ten years younger than me, and I’ve seen it grow from its very first event in 1986 into the fantastic, much-loved fixture it is today. To be celebrating its 40th anniversary is really special, it’s an annual event that has become a key part of so many swimmers’ calendars. I had cancer as a teenager, and those were very dark days, but swimming has always been a constant in my life. It has helped keep me strong, both physically and mentally. If you haven’t signed up yet, do! If you have, enjoy every moment. There really is nothing quite like swimming. Happy 40th anniversary, Swimathon.”
Olympic medallist Cassandra Patten said: “I absolutely love Swimathon. I have such formative memories of taking part as a child myself, and now it’s incredibly special to see the swimmers I coach return year after year to do the same. Watching that tradition continue across generations is really powerful — and it’s fantastic to see the event reaching 40 years old!”
Broadcaster Dermot O’Leary said: “Swimming is one of the things I look forward to in the week – it’s a proper reset for me. It’s about being in the sea, in the ponds, in nature – I adore that. I get out and I feel ready for the rest of the day. Good luck to everyone taking part in Swimathon’s 40th anniversary event.”
TV, radio and podcast host, Kate Thornton, said: “Back in the day I used to love swimming for the plate of chips I got afterwards, or whatever else the vending machine had on offer! These days, I love it for all the health benefits it brings me – from a cold water boost, to a chat with friends and the community buzz. Happy anniversary, Swimathon, and congratulations to everyone who has raised so much valuable cash.”
Swimathon Co-Founder and Advisor to Trustees, Graham Batterham, said: “For me, Swimathon has been forty years of fun – and fundraising. Bringing hundreds of thousands of people to swimming and knowing we have raised such incredible amounts of money for good causes is a massive achievement but our success simply wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated pool operators who support us year after year. They are more than just venues; they’ve been the backbone of our initiative and the frontline of our community. By opening your doors and motivating your members; you’ve helped us turn a single event into a national legacy. Thank you.”
Olympic gold medallist and Swimathon President, Duncan Goodhew, said: “It’s incredible to think that, for forty years, Swimathon has brought people together to enjoy the benefits of swimming and raise extraordinary sums for charity. Its success is testament to the loyal participants who return year after year, and to the new generation of swimmers now taking up the baton. To everyone who has been part of our journey: thank you. And to those joining us for this milestone anniversary: good luck! I can’t wait to see what the next 40 years have in store.”
Taking part in this year’s event will help raise vital funds for the world’s largest charitable funder of cancer research, Cancer Research UK, and the UK’s leading end of life charity, Marie Curie, as well as Swimathon Foundation.
Head of Events and Sports at Cancer Research UK, Gareth Mulcahy, said: “With new technologies opening doors to new discoveries, we’re living in a golden age of cancer research. But, with nearly 1 in 2 people set to be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime,* there’s so much more to do. That’s why fundraising events like Swimathon are vital to help fuel faster progress.
“Swimathon has an extraordinary legacy of bringing people together to make a real difference, and we’re incredibly proud to be part of its 40th anniversary year. Every length swum helps fund life‑saving research that brings us closer to a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. Whether you’re a first‑timer or a seasoned swimmer, taking part in Swimathon is an amazing way to challenge yourself while supporting work that has the power to change lives. We can’t wait to see communities across the UK dive in this March.”
Hannah Grant, National Events Manager at Marie Curie, said: “This March, people can dive into a fun, new challenge and raise money for a great cause. There’s only one chance to give someone the best possible end of life. That’s why we’re urging swimmers of all abilities to head down to their local pool to raise money and help Marie Curie bring expert end of life care to more people, whatever their illness.”
Find out more at swimathon.org or follow on social media: Facebook @SwimathonChallenge, Instagram @swimathon_uk, TikTok @swimathon_uk, and LinkedIn @swimathon-foundation.
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ORGANISERS
Swimathon is the world’s biggest annual pool-based fundraising swim. Taking place in pools across the country every spring, it offers swimmers of all abilities the chance to challenge themselves, as well as their friends and family, to a distance that suits them whilst fundraising for charities Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie and Swimathon Foundation.
CHARITY BENEFICIARIES
Swimathon Foundation is a registered charity working with charitable, facility, national operators and governing body partners to promote the health, wellbeing and life skills that swimming can provide. It also owns the Swimathon campaign and Marathon Swims, which both offer the public the opportunity to swim and fundraise for charity.Governed by a Board of Trustees with a passion for swimming, Swimathon Foundation aims not only to support its charity beneficiaries, but also to provide opportunities for as many people as possible to enjoy the benefits swimming brings.
Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity, dedicated to saving and improving lives through research, influence and information. Over the past 50 years, the charity’s pioneering work has helped double cancer survival in the UK. And today it’s continuing to save lives, here and around the world. Cancer Research UK’s vision is a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. And step by step, day by day, researchers are making this vision a reality thanks to a dedicated community of supporters, partners, donors, fundraisers, volunteers and staff.
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity. The charity provides expert end of life care for people with any illness they are likely to die from, and support for their family and friends, in our hospices and where they live. It is the largest charity funder of palliative and end of life care research in the UK, and campaigns to ensure everyone has a good end of life experience. Whatever the illness, we’re with you to the end. Please note: Marie Curie is no longer called Marie Curie Cancer Care.
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