Graeme Schlachter’s Marathon Swim Story

In my conversation with Graeme Schlachter, we talk about swimming the English Channel to sort out back issues, working out when and how you want, being outcome driven and so much more!

In his own words:
12 years ago was the start of my incredible journey that was to change my life and me as a person. It all started with, at the time, I thought was a very silly idea to help sort out a back issue. Swim the English Channel. 11 hrs 45 minutes

Organiser and participant in Extreme 5 challenge involving
 Cycle Lands End to John O’Groats (length of Britain)
 Run a marathon
 Kayak Across Scotland
 5 rounds of Golf in a day
 Raise £100 000 for charity

For Some reason, Swimming eventually found me again and since then the following have been done
Lake Zurich 26.4km
Lago d’Orta, 28km
SCAR – 41 miles over 4 days
Jubilee River 3 times solo and 1 time as a relay
Champion of Champions in Dover
Thames marathon 14km 2 time solo swim
Long reach Swim 8.6 km
Swim the island in Italy. 6 km, 3km, 1,5km
Multiple 3 and 5km swims
10km charity event for the last four years
2Swim4Life as a team (24Miles in 24 hours)
Guildford 12 (12 Miles in 12 hours – 1 mile per her every hour on the hour)
Humdinger 6 hour swim
Loch Lomond 21 mile Overnight swim.
Loch Lomond 24 mile Relay swim

As you can probably tell from the above, Ultra distance is something I tend to gravitate towards but never stop challenging myself with shorter swims in Pools and galas and colder swims during the winter. I just love the idea of swimming without wetsuits and tend to try and do it all year round.
My 12 year journey has been amazing but my passion lies in helping others realise their dreams and goals no matter how big or small they are. Not only has sport changed my life but it has taken me to some wonderful places around the globe and brought me into contact with some amazing people
So why not start your journey.

In 2019 I released my book (Let’s do Something different – An open water swim journey). Available on Amazon.

Public speaker on Mind matters for endurance events.