Ben Lecomte Sets Sail on the Longest Open‑Water Swim Ever!
On a bright June morning, a 51‑year‑old French adventurer named Ben Lecomte leapt into the Pacific with more ambition than a caffeinated dolphin. His goal: to surf the entire ocean— a staggering 9,000 km (about 5,600 miles) from Tokyo’s shimmering shores all the way to San Francisco’s Golden Gate.
Why This Isn’t Just a Pool Hobby
- Cresting the Waves – Ben will battle towering swells that could give a barge a run for its money.
- Shark Sightings – Those fins aren’t invited to the swim, but the local sharks might be.
- Jellyfish Bounty – Think of a beach party but with stinging beads.
- The Great Pacific Garbage Patch – He’ll plow through thousands of plastic bottles, bags, and forgotten sea toys.
The Family Factor
His little ones— the first hundred meters or so— joined the swim. Let’s face it: toddlers love adventure, and Ben was happy to let them test the waters before they pulled back to the cheering crowd of about 70 supporters, who exchanged hugs and salty sea‑air.
Why Ben is a Legend in the Making
Swimming across the largest ocean on Earth isn’t a “Friday night at the beach” story. It’s a testament to human grit twisted with a dash of sheer determination. If any of you want a before‑and‑after photo of an ordinary swimmer turned “Triumph across the Tropics” superstar, keep your eyes on the Pacific; Ben is already making waves.
Meet the Swimmer Tackling the Ocean’s Plastic Trash
Lecomte isn’t just a daredevil – he’s also an eco‑hero on a 6‑ to 8‑month splashy odyssey that takes him across the Pacific’s infamous “Texas‑size trash whirlpool,” a swirling mess of plastic between Hawaii and California.
What the Adventure Looks Like
- He and his crew will be on the 20‑metre support boat Discoverer, where he will grab a sandwich, catch a nap, and then be dropped off each morning at the spot he finished the previous night.
- Daily swim target: eight hours a day, burning roughly 8,000 calories like a marathon runner on a treadmill.
- On the surface, the voyage is a wild science experiment; his team will scoop water samples to map how micro‑plastics pile up in that garbage zone.
Beyond the Bubbles: The Mind Game
In a chat with AFP before the journey kick‑off, Lecomte said it’s not just muscle memory that keeps him afloat. “Let me tell you, the mental part is the beast. If you have nothing on your mind, it spirals into whatever you hate most. That’s when the trouble starts,” he explained, flashing a grin that says, “I’ve got this.”
His Secret Sauce
- Think of a sunny beach and a cold smoothie for every lap.
- Visualize a future where more children can swim in a cleaner sea.
- When the water’s rough, play a mental playlist of a storm‑trooper humming “I’m the best swimmer” to keep the drama out.
The mission is more than a swim; it’s a bold statement that plastic pollution can’t win. And with each impressive stroke, Lecomte is turning a splash into a hackathon for the planet.
Conquering the Chill: Michael Lecomte’s Daily Swim Challenge
Every sunrise, Michael Lecomte plunges into icy blue—a task that feels more like a test of will than a mere swim. “The hardest part? Getting back into that cold, unforgiving water each morning,” he admits, revealing that the body hits a literal wall after four to six hours of paddling. The mind, however, is his secret weapon.
Mind‑Over‑Body: The Strategy
Lecomte keeps a mental timer. “I disassociate my mind from my body,” he explains. “I watch the pain and the cold but treat them as background noise.” His own schedule— a playlist of thoughts and motivations for those eight hours—keeps the mind busy, turning a grueling routine into a creative session.
From 1998 to Now
Back in 1998, Lecomte swam across the Atlantic, vowing never to return. When his family grew, a fresh purpose emerged. “I saw my kids’ faces on the beach with my dad when I was little and the sand was pristine,” he reminisces. “Now we wade through piles of plastic,” he says, wincing at the stark contrast.
Environmental Vigilance on the Waves
Alongside the daily swim, Lecomte carries a device that monitors radioactive particles from the Fukushima plant—a reminder of how environmental threats extend beyond just plastic trash. While he’s swearing off swimming for a while, he’s steadfast in holding back, letting the ocean speak.
- Early mornings in frigid water
- Pushing through the “wall” of fatigue
- Mind‑only approach to stay afloat
- Reminiscent 1998 Atlantic swim
- Family inspiration and plastic pollution
- Monitoring Fukushima radiation
Through relentless determination and a chilled body, Lecomte proves that the greatest obstacle is often our own mindset—one that can be tricked into surfing the ice, one wave at a time.
