In May 1976, 29-year-old Australian Olympian Linda McGill [shown above] became the first person to swim 45 km around Hong Kong Island in 17 hours 6 minutes. It took 41 long years before the next attempt was made.

Simon Holliday (45, Great Britain, MSF bio here) kicked off a mini renaissance in circumnavigation swimming around Hong Kong in 2017 with his 12 hour 34 minute swim. He was later instrumental in creating a hugely successful and popular charity relay swim around the island with the Splash Foundation.

Shu Pu got heavily involved in marathon swimming and was one of the event coordinators of the inaugural 15 km Cold Half Extreme Marathon Swim in Hong Kong in 2013. She later founded and organized the 45 km HK360Swim (@hk360swim) and coordinated Holliday’s 2017 circumnavigation swim. Pu described what McGill and Holliday had experienced, “The HK360 tests a swimmer in every way: the dark, choppy harbour, the swells off Shek O, and the relentless second half. Every swimmer shows their suffering.”

Over the last week, a number of swimmers have made the journey around Hong Kong: Ryan Pong (17, Hong Kong, @ryanswims45km) in 11 hours 0 minutes, Ryan Leung Chun-hay (37, Hong Kong) in 12 hours 26 minutes, Ryan Leong (55, USA, MSF bio here, @salty_ry) and Doug Woo (48, Hong Kong) in a tandem 12 hours 50 minutes, Gabriella “Gabs” Little (55, Great Britain) in 12 hours 10 minutes, and Emeric Payer (21, France, @emeric.payer) in 10 hours 23 minutes.

Edie Hu (51, USA, MSF bio here, @edieswimshongkong) who circumnavigated in 2018 reported, “There were some really exciting swims that happened in Hong Kong this past weekend and yesterday. On Saturday, four solo swimmers completed swimming around Hong Kong. They were self-organized and raised money for The Nature Conservancy. Ryan Pong also became the youngest swimmer to have completed the circumnavigation.

Then on Sunday, Gabriella “Gabs” Little, a Hong Kong-raised British citizen, became the oldest swimmer to complete the HK360. At the age of 56, she pushed through intense pain in her shoulders and her back. She completed the last quarter of the swim swimming breaststroke and backstroke. She raised money for The Spalsh Foundation.

I supported Emeric Payer, a French national who grew up in Hong Kong and went to high school and university in Paris. He recently came back to Hong Kong for an internship and wanted to swim around the island. I helped to train him. Today, he broke Waris Mills’ record of 10 hours 35 minutes set last November, coming in at 10 hours 23 minutes. Emeric had perfect conditions with calm flat water in Victoria Harbour and then currents and a slight breeze with him the whole way. This was only his 2nd marathon open water swim. His first being only a month ago at the 14.5 km Clean Half when he came in second to Alex Fong. Emeric was raising money for Tara Ocean and The Ocean Recovery Alliance.

In 2 weeks, we have another fast swimmer lined up to take a lap around the island. Alex McIntyre (28, Great Britain) who lives in Hong Kong, will swim his third marathon swim after doing the 14.5 km Cold Half in January and the 14.5 km Clean Half in October.“

The Ryan’s

Ryan Leong, who swam a tandem with Doug Woo, this weekend, started an hour before Ryan Pong and Ryan Leung. He explains their swim, “We were all swimming to raise funds for The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Hong Kong Oyster Reef Restoration Program. The group raised more than HK$500,000 and the amount is still growing.

Ryan Pong had an official time of 11 hours 1 minute to become the youngest finisher at 17 years old. It was his first swim over 15 km – and he almost got run over by a fully loaded cargo ship 35 km into the swim. He had to sprint 300 meters to get clear. His boat captain was Kent Tam with escort kayaker Joyce Wong.

Ryan Leung had an official time of 12 hours 26 minutes under the escort of boat captain Markos Stojanovic. He previously completed a North Channel crossing in 2024 and took on the challenge to help mentor Ryan Pong. He overcame stomach issues early on to complete the swim.

I swam in tandem with Doug Woo and Ryan Leong. Our official time was 12 hours 50 minutes with boat captains Leung Wing Hang and Ng Chi Wah. Doug is an accomplished endurance athlete, swimmer, and water polo player, and this was his first major marathon swim.

We all started at different times in the early morning of October 31st at the San Wai Swimming Shed. Winds were 10-13 mph out of the east on a predominantly rising tide. Conditions were a mixed bag of sloppy chop in the harbor and around Point D’Aguilar, off/side shore winds in the south east to textured down wind bumps along the southern shores. We were met with flower lei at the finish by the HK360 2018 finisher and Hong Kong open water legend Edie Hu.

Start to finish, it is an absolutely a stunning swim. Swimming through Hong Kong Harbor at night under the lights of the towering skyscrapers on either side of you, and enormous cargo ships and other sea going vessels of all sizes going full steam, was definitely a highlight. The rest of the swim did not disappoint either. Rugged Cape D’Aguilar, the steep cliffs topped with satellite dishes, and the different islands and bays along the southern shores shore … you were never bored.

Also, the people of Hong Kong were incredibly welcoming and genuine. It’s also, by far, the most active community I’ve ever encountered. Everyone seemed to be a swimmer, paddler, hiker, runner, cyclist, or multi-sport athlete. I was even introduced to a group self titled the SWAGS (Swimmer’s Wives and Girlfriends) who learned to open water swim together. I would highly recommend this swim to anyone looking for a challenging but stunning swim.”

History of Circumnavigation Swims Around Hong Kong Island (including age when swim was completed)

• May 1976: Linda McGill (29, Australia, MSF bio here) in 17 hours 6 minutes
• November 2017: Simon Holliday (45, Great Britain, MSF bio here) in 12 hours 34 minutes
• November 2018: Edie Hu (43, USA, MSF bio here) in 12 hours 37 minutes
• November 2019: Alex Fong Lik-sun (39, Hong Kong) in 10 hours 43 minutes
• November 2020: Mayank Vaid (43, India) in 18 hours 8 minutes
• October 2021: Mayank Vaid (44, India) in 14 hours 35 minutes
• December 2021: Li Ling Yung (36, Hong Kong) in 13 hours 52 minutes
• November 2023: Ron Thompson (63, USA, MSF bio here) in 12 hours 54 minutes
• March 2024: Leslie Hamilton (31, USA, MSF bio here) aborted after 7 hours 30 minutes
• April 2024: Mayank Vaid (43, India) aborted after 15 hours 34 minutes
• December 2024: Brett Kruse (47, USA) in 11 hours 32 minutes
• November 2025: Waris Mills (23, South Africa) in 10 hours 35 minutes
• October 2026: Ryan Pong (17, Hong Kong) in 11 hours 1 minute
• October 2026: Ryan Leung Chun-hay (37, Hong Kong) in 12 hours 26 minutes
• October 2026: Ryan Leong (55, USA, MSF bio here) in 12 hours 50 minutes
• October 2026: Doug Woo (48, Hong Kong) in 12 hours 50 minutes
• November 2026: Gabriella “Gabs” Little (56, Great Britain) in 12 hours 25 minutes
• November 2026: Emeric Payer (21. France) in 10 hours 23 minutes

Hong Kong Island and Manhattan Island

The only two swimmers who have completed both a 45.9 km circumnavigation swim around Manhattan Island in New York City and the 45 km circumnavigation swim around Hong Kong Island are Edie Hu and Li Ling Yung. Hu gave a shout-out to her fellow 20 Bridges Swim alumni, “I think that more people who have done 20 Bridges should come and try Hong Kong. It is the same distance. I am really hoping Hong Kong will be on more people’s radar for a great place to come and swim. Cathy Harrington is coming in December.

November and early December are the best times to swim around Hong Kong. And it is better on neap tides, although Leslie Hamilton attempted in March, which still is doable. The water in Hong Kong is currently around 27-28‡C, but it can get down to 16-18° in January and February.”

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