From left to right, Jay Prchal (Andy's Mentor), UltraSwim 33.3 Founder and CEO Mark Turner and far right Andy Donaldson at the finish line of #2Montenegro October 2023. Image by Lloyd Images / UltraSwim 33.3

We are delighted to announce that Andy Donaldson will be joining us at UltraSwim 33.3 as our Global Ambassador for at least the next two seasons of our epic adventure swim race series.

Many of you will know Andy already through his remarkable accomplishments in swimming, most recently becoming World Record Holder for the Oceans 7. In fact, not only did he become the first person to complete the 7 challenging ocean swims in less than a year, he did it in the record-breaking (cumulative) time of 63 hours 2 minutes beating the previous world-best of 64 hours 35 minutes.

More importantly, some of you will know Andy on a personal level after he attended #2Montenergo. We actually overheard someone say they thought he was ‘the nicest guy in swimming’... Andy is also a powerful advocate, supporting the benefits of swimming for mental health.

As we grow our series, with the ambition of reaching five international events in 2025, and eight by 2027 - we’re excited to have experienced voices such as Andy and his Mentor Jay Prchal with us.

One of the first things we will launch with Andy and Jay is brand-new event preparation endurance swim camp immediately prior to #5Montenegro. Led by Andy, supported by a super qualified group of coaches and experts for example in nutrition, the camp offers an exclusive opportunity to arrive on the 33.3 startline perfectly prepared. There are a few spots remaining, please email susie@ultraswim333.com if you are interested.

When asked about his new role as Global Ambassador for UltraSwim 33.3 Andy said, “UltraSwim 33.3 is an event with everything - fun, challenge, well-organised safety, and adventurous open water swims in beautiful locations.

However, what makes it truly stand out is the fantastic sense of support and camaraderie. Whether you're a seasoned swimmer or new to open water, people from all backgrounds gather to swim at UltraSwim 33.3, creating an incredible environment and community for developing genuine friendships.

For me, UltraSwim 33.3 embodies all the best aspects of open water and has something special for everyone.”

UltraSwim Founder and CEO Mark Turner said, “When Andy attended UltraSwim 33.3 we discovered a natural ambassador for our brand. He represents everything our event is about, he is generous with his time and has valuable skills and experience he can share with our swimmers. We also respect and support Andy’s work around mental health advocacy - we have seen the power swimming has to change people’s lives and together we believe we can act as a force for good in this space.

“I very much look forward to him becoming part of the team.”

As our Global Ambassador, Andy will attend the UltraSwim 33.3 events and act as a support for the swimmers onsite, as well as offering advice and support in the run-up to each event via the Webinars and WhatsApp chat groups.

We’re even thinking about challenging Andy to swim the 33.3km in one go on the final day and meet you all at the finish line… what do you think? 😉

If you would like to read more about Andy’s achievements and passion for mental health advocacy, why not check out this article on Outdoor Swimmer Magazine