International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer Lynton Mortenson (Australia, 62, MSF bio here, IISA bio here) retired from his legal career and went on a worldwide tour.

It was not your normal, traditional retirement vacation tour.

It was special. Grueling, challenging, adventurous, unique.

After his initial worldwide tour of channel crossings and ice swims, then the Australian force of nature, known as the Sea Bull, really took things into his own hands.

He set and achieved a dual goal: The 007 Challenge, a combination of the two most difficult open water swimming series in the world: the Oceans Seven and the Ice Sevens.

Lynton Mortensen’s Oceans Seven Journey

The Oceans Seven requires the solo crossing of seven iconic channels around the world, first conceived in 2008. It is open water swimming’s version of the Seven Summits. The Seven Summits are the highest mountains in each of the seven continents, a mountaineering achievement.

• North Channel 35 km between Northern Ireland and Scotland in 13 hours 49 minutes
• Cook Strait 23 km between the North Island and South Island of New Zealand in 14 hours 14 minutes
• Molokai Channel 45 km between Oahu and Molokai Island in the state of Hawaii in 14 hours 49 minutes
• English Channel 33.5 km between England and France in 12 hours 35 minutes
• Catalina Channel 32.3 km between Santa Catalina Island and Palos Verdes Peninsula in 13 hours 59 minutes
• Tsugaru Channel 19.5 km between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido in northern Japan in 9 hours 34 minutes
• Strait of Gibraltar 14.4 km between Europe (Spain) and Africa (Morocco) in 5 hours 12 minutes

Lynton Mortensen’s Ice Sevens Journey

The Ice Sevens, first conceived in 2016, is the ice swimming equivalent of the Oceans Seven. The Ice Sevens requires the completion of seven different Ice Miles around the world, each ratified by the International Ice Swimming Association.

• An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Europe: Austria (Lake Grundlsee) in 4.03°C water and -2.40°C air in 35:29
• An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Oceania: Australia (Lake Crackenback) in 4.77°C water and 4.20°C air in 39:36
• An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Asia: Japan (Lake Kawaguchi) in 4.27°C water and -1.10°C air in 40:18
• An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in North America: USA (Lake Tahoe) in 3.97°C water and -1.00°C air in 41:56
• An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in Africa: Morocco (Lake Aguelmame) in 4.73°C water and 0.20°C air in 39:13
• An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any location in South America: Chile (Puerto Natales) in 3.93°C water and -1.00°C air in 32:06
• An Ice Mile swum below 5ºC (41ºF) in any Polar location at 60º south or below or 70º north or above: Svalbard (Longyearbyen) in –0.77°C water and
  -15.90°C air in 33:56 and Antarctica (Almirante Brown Station) in –1.00°C water -1.00°C water and -2.70°C air in 31:41
• One of the seven Ice Miles must be a documented Zero Ice Mile (defined as a solo mile swim performed at below 1ºC)

In a most eloquent way, Mortensen explained his Ice Sevens, “What started out as a whisper, ended as a roar on this wonderful journey. At the edge of the map, where land fades and breath sharpens, I swam not to escape the cold — but to meet myself in it. In magnificent Patagonia – Puerto Natales [that culminated the challenge] – its beauty only exceed by the incredible swimming community here that went above and beyond in welcoming me and Lisa in their support of the swim. Bárbara Hernández Huerta and her team were absolutely amazing — both in and out of the water. Such beautiful people with such big hearts — it honestly felt like family. I was lucky after arriving late on July 23rd to have locals Melissa and Evelyn join me for a test swim in the 2 days before the Ice Mile. They were absolute rockstars tying and coordinating the swim with the rest of the amazing team. They all brought great energy and calm to making a special day. The conditions were magical, the Patagonian backdrop breathtaking, and the unexpected touching post-swim presentation and the stunning tribute trophy was a lovely surprise.“

Post-007

But true to Mortensen’s nature, his journeys in The Ice continue.

On August 2nd in Lake Placid in Afriski, Lesotho on the African continent he completed his ninth Ice Mile in 2.07°C water and 6.30°C air in 43:33 at the IISA Ice Swimming South Africa National Championships at 3,030 meters in altitude.

He explains, “After completing the Ice Sevens, I was in search of my next extreme ice mile challenge….and Lesotho ‘Africa’s Kingdom in the Sky’ delivered. At Afriski ski lodge I swam my third extreme ice mile at high altitude and 2.07°C. My previous extreme ice miles being the Arctic and Antartica in sub-zero waters.

Accompanied by my wife Lisa, our adventure nearly ended before it even began. En route to Afriski a blanket of snow swept across the mountain making visibility poor and road conditions treacherous. Our transfer vehicle lost traction on the ice and began sliding backwards! We were only 3 km away but couldn’t proceed any further…..so close yet still so far away.

Luckily Francis, a local diamond miner heading to work, came to the rescue. We were extremely grateful as he stopped to help our driver and then gave us a lift to Afriski in his 4WD. Being a local and a very experienced driver in all weather conditions on the mountain, he turned what was a stressful situation into one of relief.

Later that night, we watched in awe as snow and hail fell during a dramatic lightning and thunder display….it was quite an introduction to Lesotho.

Preparation for this event had been less than perfect in our tropical Queensland weather with even our coldest winter days being warm in comparison to Lesotho. I swam throughout parts of the winter with Phil Clayton and the PC & Co crew at Tallebudgera and Burleigh, but only managed to do a handful of 1°C ice baths.

I had plenty previous cold-water kilometers and miles in the bank, but nothing could simulate or prepare me for the 2.07°C water and, even more significantly, its combination with the thin air at 3,030m in Lesotho.

My 50m test swim two days beforehand was brutal. I felt completely breathless and my hands and feet felt as though I had swum a full ice mile. My 100m event the next day was better, but even after three days of acclimatising to the altidude I was still puffing after walking up a few stairs. For the first time before a major swim, I found it difficult to convince myself I would finish.

Each morning, ice about a centimeter thick had to be cleared from the lake. Sugar, a local Afriski staff member, used his kayak to break the ice and position the buoys, even taking an unexpected swim himself…and Ram Barkai repeatedly entered the freezing water to set the course accurately.

Like everything in ice swimming, the course remained fluid. When 50m laps (16 x 100m loops) were proposed for my ice mile, I told Ram that would do my head in. So the night before Ram and I discussed, a 6-loop course illustrated with toothpicks on the dinner table. I went to bed having mentally swum those 6 loops only to learn the next day, shortly before my event, that safety and water depth had forced another change.

It would now be 100m laps (8 x 200m loops plus a bit extra to make the mile). An identical course to my Moroccan Ice Mile.

I find short courses hard. With my build, I’m more battle cruiser than speedboat: it takes time and energy to turn at every buoy and get moving again….and at altitude, every restart demanded oxygen I didn’t seem to have.

Pre-swim

Before the swim, doctors marked the veins on our hands and arms in case urgent intravenous access was needed during recovery. Just prior to the swim, South African swimmers invited fellow Ice Mile swimmer Marcelle Stiemens and me into a circle and offered a touching prayer for our safety. Lisa and I arrived as visitors from Australia, but were immediately made to feel incredibly welcome and part of the family.

Marcelle and I were the final swimmers of the championships. Around 30 or more swimmers, seconds, officials, volunteers and supporters lined the shore along the course to cheer us on.

The Ice Mile

The opening 200m became one of the hardest mental battles I’ve experienced in any swim. I couldn’t breathe or find any rhythm. I felt like a goldfish outside its tank gasping for air. I felt like I was breathing through a straw.

I switched between freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke, trying to find something that worked. At about 100m, I was ready to get out. One voice said, ‘No problem, mate…there’s no shame in stopping.’ The other voice reminded me of our family moto, ‘Never give up – keep swimming until you run out of water’…or in this case ice.

I took on my chameleon mindset – I adapt and blend into my environment.I became one with my environment. I had to stop fighting the mountain and embrace it.

Sam Whelpton and I discussed and knew the first 400 meters would be hell. We just had to get to 400 meters to find a rhythm, a calmness breathing, getting comfortable being uncomfortable & giving determination and grit a chance to take over. I remember locking eyes with Lisa and Sam on the shoreline and thinking just make it to 400.

Lisa, Laurence and Ram followed along the bank as the whole shoreline seemed to carry Marcelle and me forward. At around 200m something finally clicked….my breathing settled, freestyle returned and I found a rhythm.

After 43 minutes and 33.54, my longest Ice Mile, I touched the finish. For me it was never about the time….it was about finding a way through a swim I seriously doubted I could complete.

There was no sauna or hot bath for the recovery – just blankets, controlled breathing, hugs and an outstanding medical team as the afterdrop took hold. When I eventually reached a shower, the hot water had run out and I began freezing again so my recovery had a setback.

As Ram says, ‘The swim is not over until you’re smiling again’….well I got there eventually.

In my own mind (not an official award), Lesotho completed a personal Extreme Ice Mile trilogy: sub-zero miles in the Arctic and Antarctica, and now an altitude mile in Africa’s Kingdom in the Sky. I’m grateful for the opportunity and relieved that I found a way to persevere and achieve my goal.

Because the ice mile was the final event, Lisa and I were the last to enter the restaurant for the awards dinner. As we walked in, everyone cheered, clapped and thumped the tables. It was surreal and humbling, but the admiration was mutual.

Every swimmer had faced a battle, and every supporter had helped someone through their challenges. We arrived from different places and left bound together by cold, altitude and shared experience.

The body is capable of anything; it is the mind you have to convince. What began as a whisper ended with a roar.

Daffodil Day Dip

The swim fit in perfectly with the initiative of Cancer Council Australia, Daffodil Day Dip. Almost 1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by age 85. During August, thousands are taking a cold plunge to raise funds for cancer research and support. I’ve done my Daffodil Day (extreme) Dip. After the mile, my hands were no longer capable of putting on the Daffodil Cap, so Laurence did it for me before the brutal recovery began. If you are able, please consider supporting here. Every dollar goes to life-saving research and support for Australians facing https://www.daffodilday.com.au/login/event.“

2026 IISA South Africa Ice Swimming Championships Results

• Held on 1-2 August 2026 in Afriski Resort in Lesotho, South Africa

Ice Mile Results

1. Marcelle Stiemens (59) 32:06.16
2. Lynton Mortensen (61) 43:33.54

1000m Freestyle Results

1. Catherine Francis van Rensburg (22) 17:08.69
2. Reino von Wielligh (33) 17:09.09
3. Samantha Whelpton (41) 21:36.58
4. Marga Wessels-Jooste (51) 23:00.26
5. Jared Shutte (21). 23:35.83
6. Justine Johnson (49) 24:28.86
7. Francois Schenck (48) 24:58.05
8. Johan Herman Rens (45) 26:26.13
9. Niv Shriker (31) 27:59.70
10. Gordon Shutte (55) 28:04.72

500m Freestyle Results

1. Catherine Francis van Rensburg (22) 7:45.24
2. Jared Shutte (21) 10:22.41
3. Mignon Burger (18) 10:48.10
4. Marga Wessels-Jooste (51) 10:54.74
5. Justin Fletcher (50) 11:06.76
6. Laurence Goodacre (46) 11:17.59
7. Justin Johnson (49) 11:24.47
8. Janet Kahn (32) 11:29.80
9. Niv Shriker (31) 12:54.18
10. Nicky Struwig (54) 13:45.80
11. Madale de Villiers (48) 15:30.52
12. Amelia Everitt (50) 16:45.48

250m Freestyle Results

1. Annabelle van Rensburg (16) 4:10.32
2. Dalan Holton (52) 4:26.43
3. Graham du Toit (66) 4:38.83
4. Mignon Burger (18) 5:01.52
5. Janet Kahn (32) 5:14.70
6. Laurence Goodacre (46) 5:23.06
7. Ram Barkai (69) 5:42.63
8. Kim Fletcher (20) 5:55.10
9. Neil Macaskill (45) 5:55.74
10. Joanna Dempsey (55) 6:07.11
11. Marius Goosen (56) 6:37.60
12. Madale de Villiers (48) 6:56.94
13. Wei Ping Chew (42) 9:22.06

100m Freestyle Results

1. Juan Boshoff (21) 1:18.65
2. Dalan Holton (52) 1:25.84
3. Laurence Goodacre (46) 1:28.99
4. Graham du Toit (66) 1:31.40
5. Marcelle Stiemens (59) 1:34.69
6. Annabelle van Rensburg (16) 1:35.45
7. Samantha Whelpton (41) 1:44.96
8. Joanna Dempsey (55) 1:46.51
9. Gordon Shutte (55) 1:54.35
10. Ram Barkai (69) 1:55.28
11. Madale de Villiers (48) 2:03.90
12. Niv Shriker (31) 2:07.57
13. Marius Goosen (56) 2:13.07
14. Johan Herman Rens (45) 2:21.38
15. Enrico Verwey (45) 2:22.20
16. Derrick Levy (79) 2:26.66
17. Francois Schenck (48) 2:31.43
18. Wei Ping Chew (42) 2:45.40
19. Donna McTaggart (48) 2:59.14

50m Freestyle Results

1. Dalan Holton (52) 36.72
2. Laurence Goodacre (46) 39.57
3. Graham du Toit (66) 39.70
4. Neil Macaskill (45) 41.54
5. Camilla Howard (44) 41.56
6. Joanna Dempsey (55) 46.20
7. Marius Goosen (56) 50.37
8. Nicky Struwig (54) 51.09
9. Janet Kahn (32) 51.66
10. Madale de Villiers (48) 54.90
11. 1Zvigidiz Chenman (46) 1:03.14
12. Amelia Everitt (50) 1:06.14
13. Derrick Levy (79) 1:09.55

© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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