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Adam Walker
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Adam’s Oceans 7 story is an inspiration. He has been chased by sharks and saved by dolphins, stung by the almost instantly deadly Portuguese Man O War jellyfish and losing feeling in his spine and much more. His story and experience encourages audiences to set goals, get motivated, live your dreams and overcome adversity. A fascinating keynote speaker.
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Testimonials for Adam Walker
The 7 Oceans Challenge is one of the most formidable physical challenges. Adam is an inspiration to us all and demonstrates that with hard work, determination and an iron will; anything is possible.
Professor Greg Whyte
Adam Walker travels from International, UK
Fee Range: POA
Fee Range: POA
Adam Walker's Biography
Adam’s Oceans 7 story is an inspiration. He has been chased by sharks and saved by dolphins, stung by the almost instantly deadly Portuguese Man O War jellyfish and losing feeling in his spine and much more. His story and experience encourages audiences to set goals, get motivated, live your dreams and overcome adversity. A fascinating keynote speaker.
Adam Walker is a record breaking ocean swimmer, the first Brit and 1 of 5 in history to complete seven of the world's most difficult ocean swims, otherwise known as 'Oceans Seven'.
Long distance ocean swimming is recognised as one of the toughest challenges to man on the planet. Not only conquering the immense distances but, perhaps even more so, the incredible dangers surrounding the activity, from enduring freezing cold temperatures and huge, nauseating swells to the likelihood of being severely injured, sun burnt, stung by jelly fish or even eaten.
Despite starting his career as a salesman, with no qualifications or training as a swimmer, in 2007, Adam decided he was going to take part in the Oceans Seven Challenge after watching a film on a flight to Australia. The film, On A Clear Day, presents the story of a man overcome with insecurity who decides to rectify the situation and rebuild his self-esteem in the face of adversity, doing so by swimming across the English Channel. That was all Adam needed; that was the motivational push that got him started.
So not even a full year later, in 2008, Adam appeared in Dover to swim across the English Channel for the first time. After finishing it in 11 hours and 35 minutes, he committed himself to successfully complete the Oceans Seven challenge. With that said, in 2010, Adam became the first British person to swim from Spain to Morocco ... and then, instantly, the first person to swim there and back.
After the initial two swims, each endeavour has had a particular element about it that Adam has used to his advantage as a means to overcome future swims. In 2012, 'determination' seemed the most appropriate description of Adam's efforts as he took on the Molokai Straits in Hawaii. Having to evade tiger sharks, and even though he was stung by a Portuguese Man o' War, he managed to complete the swim on the verge of paralysis within 17 hours.
Later in the same year, Adam swam, with intense motion sickness, over 21 miles in darkness over the Catalina Channel, having to cross the last three miles with a torn shoulder. Next was the Tsugaru Channel where the current was so strong that Adam found himself to be nearly stationary, despite the huge amounts of energy he was expending to move forwards, and all for over 15 hours. After being constantly confronted by 'the wall', the psychological and physiological barrier of pain that tests even the most seasoned of athletes, this swim had to be dubbed as his 'toughest to date'. Adam completed these feats due to his incredible fitness, stamina, willpower to succeed and his power of mind – a psychological triumph. His next swim took place in New Zealand, over Cook Strait in the earlier months of 2014. On this particular swim, it wasn't as much the distance that worried him, but more so, the marine life below him. This swim saw Adam rise to fame as he continued on his mission regardless of the fact that he was being actively hunted by sharks. What made the journey all the better, was a nearby pod of dolphins who came to his aid, protecting him until he was at a far enough distance from the sharks to continue unassisted.
On Wednesday 6th August 2014, Adam became the first British person and one of only five people in the World to finish all seven of the Oceans Seven swims, swimming from Ireland to Scotland. Leaving Donaghadee from Robbies Point at 6:45am, the sea was calm which meant early on, the Lions Mane Jelly Fish were in force. 'What I was not prepared for, was quite how big they can be. However, after a few stings, you realise their bark is worse than their bite!' Thankfully, the swim was straight forward until the end, until Adam had 3km to go after 8hrs 30mins and the current started to move him to the East, which unfortunately meant no record was possible. Adam finished approximately 2 miles from the planned finish point at 5:30pm.
Adam's swims have been life changing, both in the pool and in the ocean. He taps into a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise, specifically focussing on motivation, self-esteem, self-discovery and overcoming psychological barriers. He talks to a wide range of audiences not only in the UK but also in US, New Zealand and Japan about his amazing story, his challenges and what drives him. He is also part of a global Skype programme which educates children and gives them the psychological edge to follow their dreams.
Adam trains future oceans challenges and teaches open water swimming. He supports a number of charities including The Whale and dolphin conservation Society, Make A Wish Foundation and Sports Aid.
Speaking Topics Include
- Commitment
- Inspiring Youth
- Planning
- Tales from the deep
- Tsugaru - what "determination" means
- Overcoming pain
- Turning the impossible on its head
- Anecdotes of his life and experiences