British swimmer addicted to Icelandic licorice
There was great celebration upon his arrival at Nauthólsvík. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Swimmer Ross Edgley today became the first person ever to swim around the entire coastline of Iceland. He was greeted with warm cheers at Nauthólsvík after completing his 115-day journey.
Edgley was understandably overjoyed with his achievement and full of gratitude as he stepped onto shore.
“Thank you so much. Iceland is a spectacular country, but mostly because of the incredible people who live here,” he told reporters after the swim, describing how Icelanders had supported him throughout the challenge.
“We faced storms and terrible weather along the way, and the hospitality was unbelievable. People invited us into their homes and cooked meals for us,” he said.
“I love Iceland, especially because of the people who call this place home,” he added with a smile.
Gratitude was uppermost in Edgley’s mind. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Helped rescue pilot whales in Ólafsfjörður
According to Edgley, one of the highlights of the journey came when he swam into Ólafsfjörður and joined others in helping a group of pilot whales that had become stranded in the fjord.
He also mentioned the especially warm welcome he received in Vestmannaeyjar and Grímsey.
Sparkling wine and beer were waiting for Edgley on shore. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Hooked on Icelandic licorice
Edgley said he didn’t spend much time thinking about the finish line during the swim, but he always knew exactly what he wanted to do once it was over:
“I’m going to get myself some Icelandic licorice — I’ve become completely addicted to it!”
The journey turned out to be even tougher than he had expected when he set off back in May.
“I didn’t realize how quickly the weather changes here. You basically get all four seasons in every single swim,” he said.
There was a large crowd gathered at Nauthólsvík. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Hard to top Iceland
As for what comes next, Edgley said he hasn’t made any decisions yet.
“This swim exceeded all expectations — it’s going to be very hard to top it.”
He emphasized that the project was about more than just swimming. During his journey, he also collected ocean samples from around Iceland’s coast for scientists to study.
“We now have an incredible map of Iceland’s marine biodiversity, and that means a lot to me. This wasn’t just a swim — it was also a scientific mission.”
British ambassador proud of his fellow countryman
Brony Mathew, the British ambassador to Iceland, was present at Nauthólsvík to witness Edgley’s historic finish and expressed her pride.
“The swim was absolutely phenomenal — and at the same time, you’re helping the University of Iceland and other institutions by gathering these samples,” Mathew told him as he came ashore.
After 115 days at sea and more than 1,600 kilometers traveled, Ross Edgley finally gets the chance to celebrate his extraordinary achievement.
