Shu Pu reported that Leslie Hamilton will soon start a HK360 swim around Hong Kong Island with plans to set a record. “She will start at 11:45 pm tonight Hong Kong time with an estimated finish is around 10 am on Monday.“
Hamilton, a 31-year-old former college swimmer from Centre College, has completed all the swims of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim and SCAR Swim Challenge (between the 2019, 2021, and 2022 events), completed a 45.9 km 20 Bridges Manhattan Swim, a 21 km Swim Around Charleston, the 25 km Border Buster, the 10 km Bermuda Round-the-Sound, a 34 km Lake Tahoe crossing. She also holds records for the 27.3 km Rose Pitonof Swim and the 59.5 km circumnavigation swim around Staten Island.
The HK360 swim will start and finish at Sai Wan Swimming Shed – and will be Hamilton’s fourth major circumnavigation swim after Manhattan Island and Staten Island in New York and Charleston in South Carolina.
Pu continues, “Leslie’s swim will raise money for Riverkeeper which protects and restores the Hudson River in New York which is where Leslie is from originally. She swam her very first marathon swim in Asia. Leslie is setting her eye on the female solo course record to swim around Hong Kong Island, previously set by American swimmer Edie Hu in 2018 in 12 hours 37 minutes 43 seconds. The male and overall course record was set by Hong Kong swimmer Alex Fong in 2019 in 10 hours 43 minutes 6 seconds.
So far only 6 swimmers have completed the swim solo of which 2 were females.
Riverkeeper
Riverkeeper was founded in 1966 by the Hudson River fisherman to protect and revive a heavily polluted and neglected urban river. Today, Riverkeeper continues seeking out polluters and teaming with citizen scientists and activists to reclaim the Hudson River, as well as working to ensure that over nine million New Yorkers have clean, safe drinking water.
Today, pollution levels are down, and swimming and boating are back. Riverkeeper’s vision is of a Hudson teeming with life, with engaged communities boating, fishing, and swimming throughout its watershed.
Hamilton says, “HK360 encourages its participants to raise money for a cause they’re passionate about. So, in conjunction with my swim around Hong Kong island, I’m fundraising for Riverkeeper which protects and restores the Hudson River. The Hudson is very important to me as I swam my first ever marathon swim there, got married along its shores, and live right next to it. I want to help ensure that its beauty and quality endures and continues to support wildlife who call it home and depend on it, and so generations of New Yorkers to come can enjoy it.
The Hudson River and the surrounding New York City waterways have taught me so many lessons and given me so many adventures, dreams, and hope, so giving back to it feels right. I’ll be leaving this campaign open indefinitely through the summer as Riverkeeper is such a worthy organization, and its mission ties in nicely with another swim I have this year.”
HK360 Swim
Pu explains about HK360Swim, “It is a 43 km swim around Hong Kong Island. Swimmers can take on the challenge by swimming solo, or a relay of 2-6. Since 2017, 6 solo swims and over 20 relay swims had been organized. Most swimmers and teams have used this opportunity to raise funds for a cause, for charities both in Hong Kong and abroad.”
Members of the public or companies can get involved in Leslie’s Hamilton’s swim by making donations here:
To follow Hamilton, her live tracking is here.
Attempt update by Pu, “On Monday, March 11th, we had the privilege of organizing and witnessing the solo attempt of HK360, a 43 km swim around Hong Kong Island, by Leslie Hamilton from Manhattan, New York, USA. She is an incredible athlete and a role model for the open water swimming community.
Leslie started her swim shortly before Sunday midnight from Sai Wan Swimming Shed and faced strong winds and swells from the remnants of a monsoon that were much bigger than forecasted. Despite the challenging conditions, she swam with grace and grit, covering more than half of the distance when her injury became unbearable and unfortunately had to stop her swim for her safety.
We were heartbroken to see her end her swim, but also immensely proud of her courage and perseverance. She showed us what it means to dream big and push the limits. I want to congratulate her on her amazing achievement and thank her for inspiring us all. I hope she recovers soon and I look forward to supporting her in her future endeavors.
She is a true champion and a legend of the sport.“
Leslie discovered the open water swimming community through New York Open Water community, Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers, and Red Tide Masters swim team – and is swimming around the world to share her passion.
For more updates on HK360, visit here.
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