Neil Gilson Completes Switzerland’s “Legend of the Lakes” Challenge

Neil Gilson, a 40-year-old former British 1500-metre freestyle runner from Devon, became the first person to swim the ten largest lakes in Switzerland—a total of roughly 230 miles (370 km). Over the course of two consecutive summers he tackled each lake, finishing the 45-mile stretch of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) in just over 22 hours. His children, Lily and Jack, joined him for the final 200 metres, helping him cross the finish line.

The Guardian

Gilson, once ranked second in Britain for the 1500 m freestyle, turned to ultra-endurance swimming after a career in race swimming. In 2024 he set a world record for crossing Lac Léman in 22 hours 9 minutes, but chose to pursue a longer series of swims, dubbing the effort the “Legend of the Lakes” challenge. He prepared with extensive pool work, open-water sessions off the north-Devon coast, and gym training. Earlier attempts, such as a 40-mile swim in Lake Maggiore, left him exhausted, and Lake Thun proved physically taxing, prompting him to remark on feeling “shattered.”

The Guardian

• Lakes covered: Switzerland’s ten largest, spanning about 230 miles (370 km).

The Guardian

• Lac Léman segment: 45 miles, completed in just over 22 hours.

The Guardian

• Prior record on Lac Léman: 22 hours 9 minutes (2024).

The Guardian

• Support crew: boat-based team providing coffee and morale cues.

The Guardian

Gilson’s support team supplied coffee and encouragement, which he credited with sustaining him during the marathon swims. Although he narrowly missed beating his own Lac Léman record, he expects Guinness World Records to recognise his completion of the full lake series. Beyond the athletic feat, Gilson emphasizes that the challenge serves to raise awareness of a neuropsychiatric condition he calls “Pans” or “Pandas,” which affected his son Jack after a bout of tonsillitis. He describes the condition as under-diagnosed despite its prevalence and hopes the swim will spotlight it.

The Guardian

• “They swam the last 200m with me,” — Neil Gilson

The Guardian

• “My arms don’t like me and I feel shattered.” — Neil Gilson

The Guardian

• “He went to bed a happy, healthy little boy, and woke up as someone we didn’t recognise, gripped by aggression, OCD [obsessive-compulsive disorder], tics and intense fear; he refused to eat, wouldn’t leave the house or even speak. It was terrifying,” — Neil Gilson

The Guardian