brio stories: Paul’s swim around the world 

If you’re a regular swimmer at Brio Northwich, Winsford, or Christleton, then you may have noticed a man in a blue swimming cap, charging up and down the pool for hours. Meet Paul – a friendly face in our Brio community and one of the world’s extreme ocean swimmers.

Growing up with a strong athletic background, Paul dived into the world of open-water swimming after the 2020 lockdown, completing the English Channel in 12 hours 39 minutes. Since then, he’s tackled channels around the globe, braved icy waters and unpredictable conditions, and even survived a shark bite!

We spoke to Paul to hear about his passion for the sport, the mental and physical challenges it brings, and his mission to complete the Oceans Seven – an incredible feat achieved by only 42 people worldwide. 

What does a typical ocean swim expedition look like? 

A huge amount of planning goes into preparing for a swim attempt - from organising travel, accommodation, and supplies, to mapping out the ‘swim day’ around tides and wind. Because a swim could last anywhere between 12 to 20 hours, the build-up is often filled with a lot of nerves – you pray the conditions will be on your side as it can completely shape the swim ahead. 

If everything aligns on the day, my mind can drift into the swim, and the 30-minute feed intervals arrive in what feels like 5 minutes! In tougher conditions, I feel every single second and have to dig deep to stay positive.

Marathon swimming is about 60% mental, 40% physical. You can train for the distance, but mental resilience comes from a mix of experience, focus and positivity.

How does your training in the pool help you in the sea? 

Whilst it’s important to gain experience in colder and trickier conditions in open water, pool training is essential for me to build my strength. About 70% of my weekly training happens during lane swims at Brio, where I rack up around 33 – 55km a week (between 1400 – 2200 lengths!) - the more the better!

The Master’s sessions are another great addition to my routine. It’s motivating, challenging, and it’s introduced me to a whole community of like-minded swimmers. 

What’s been your toughest challenge in the water, and how did you overcome it? 

I think it has to be Loch Lomond, just because it was an overnight swim, the water was freezing, and I was battling a very sore hip-flexor pain. After 6 hours of swimming in pitch black, I was ready to quit, but my kids Andrew and Rebecca piloted the boat away to keep me in the water.

At one point, the water warmed slightly, which gave me some momentum to push on, but it dropped again near the end. I was in no position to give up! Completing this swim took a lot of grit and determination, but it gave me a lot of experience to take to my next swims. 

What was your most memorable swim experience so far? And why does it stand out? 

All my swims have been memorable, but the one that stands out has to be the Kaw’ai channel in Hawaii. The swim stretches 27 miles between Oahu and Molokai, through waters full of marine life: turtles, dolphins, whales, sharks, flying fish, and jellies – you feel all sorts of movements in the water, which you hope are just currents! My first attempt at the swim was in March this year, and it did not go to plan.

I was constantly stung by jellyfish, and I had been pushed 7.5km off course, which meant that if this was going to be successful, we were in for at least 20 hours.

Then at midnight, something bit my finger, and then my ankle. The pain was searing. We ended the swim immediately and headed straight to the ER - the culprit was a cookie-cutter shark!

Determined not to be defeated, I reattempted the swim 6 months later and set a new course record, completing it in 13 hours and 50 minutes! Those two swims I will never forget.

You’re on the road to completing the Oceans Seven: How does 2026 look like for you? 

In 2026, I hope to complete 4 swims, the Tsugaru Strait in Japan my top goal as it will earn me the Oceans Seven, a dream I’ve been chasing for five years. The other 3 swims are Lake Zurich, Fastnet (for the Irish Triple Crown), and Dal Riata. Of course, plenty of training swims will come in between, but these are next year’s main objectives.

Paul will also be featuring in a documentary film, Don’t be Prey, which will be released in 2026.

Click here for more information. To take part in our lane swimming or if you fancy giving Brio Masters a go, check out the timetable of your nearest Brio site, here.