Benjamin Lecomte

Benjamin Lecomte was born on July 12, 1986, in Paris, France. He grew up with a passion for swimming and the ocean, setting the foundations for his future endeavors. His early life was marked by a deep connection to water and nature, influencing his later pursuits in long-distance swimming challenges across oceans.

In 1998, Benjamin Lecomte was inspired by the French swimmer Benoît Lecomte, who reportedly became the first man to swim across the Atlantic Ocean without a kickboard, covering over 3,700 miles. This feat captured the imagination of many, including Benjamin, who would later embark on his own ambitious oceanic swims to raise awareness for environmental issues.

Benoît Lecomte's swim across the Atlantic in 1998 from Hyannis, Massachusetts, to Quiberon, France, took him 73 days. Though aided by favorable currents, Lecomte's journey was fraught with challenges, including sharks, exhaustion, and solitude. This monumental achievement inspired many, including those interested in long-distance swimming like Benjamin Lecomte.

On June 5, 2018, Benjamin Lecomte embarked on an unprecedented journey, attempting to swim across the Pacific Ocean from Tokyo, Japan, to San Francisco, USA. The initiative, called 'The Swim,' was not just an athletic challenge but also a research expedition to collect data on plastic pollution in the ocean. Over a period of more than six months, Lecomte faced numerous hardships from vast waves to marine life encounters, all while highlighting the critical state of ocean pollution globally.

On December 11, 2018, Benjamin Lecomte completed his open-water swim across a significant portion of the Pacific Ocean after six months of grueling swimming from Japan toward California. Although he did not reach the mainland, the swim covered 1,753 miles aimed at raising awareness about plastic pollution. The data collected during the swim provided valuable insights into the ocean's health and the prevalence of plastic debris, highlighting an urgent environmental crisis.

In 2020, Benjamin Lecomte's efforts to combat ocean pollution led to collaboration with marine scientists and technologists to employ artificial intelligence in the fight against plastic pollution. By using AI-driven techniques, they aimed to better track and analyze plastic debris patterns in the ocean, enhancing the data obtained in his prior swims and improving strategies to remove plastics effectively and efficiently.

In June 2021, Benjamin Lecomte undertook the Arctic Swim Challenge, where he aimed to swim in some of the planet's coldest waters around the Arctic region. This swim was part of a larger set of activities to document changes in the polar environments due to climate change. Lecomte faced extreme cold and ice-filled waters, bringing attention not just to human endurance but to the pressing global issues of climate shifts affecting polar ecosystems.

On September 13, 2021, Benjamin Lecomte completed a remarkable swim along the entire length of the Hudson River in New York. This endeavor, spanning 315 miles, was named 'The Hudson River Swim' and aimed to shed light on water pollution issues and promote clean water initiatives. His journey highlighted pollution challenges faced by inland waterways, complementing his oceanic swims, and brought local and international attention to the significance of maintaining clean and sustainable water bodies.

On Earth Day 2022, Benjamin Lecomte participated in various campaigns and events aimed at protecting the environment and advocating for greater action against global pollution. His continued advocacy highlighted the severe impacts of plastic pollution, urging governments and corporations to take stronger actions in protecting the planet. Lecomte leveraged his experiences from numerous swims to illustrate firsthand the severity of the crisis, evoking a call to action for stronger environmental stewardship.

In November 2022, Benjamin Lecomte ventured into organizational efforts by launching a new initiative focused on ocean clean-up and preservation. Collaborating with environmental groups and volunteer networks, this project aimed to engage local communities in active beach and oceanfront clean-ups. The initiative also incorporated educational workshops to build awareness and drive sustainable practices for ocean conservation, solidifying his role as a leading advocate in the fight against ocean pollution.