Lake Windermere Swim: Levi Delvin-Attille

This inspiring blog post, written by Levi, details his swim across Lake Windermere on June 11th, 2024.

With the help of Ocean Lube, Levi remained chafe-free for 12.5km of swimming. An incredible achievement, we love that the driving force for Levi is to help those suffering from mental health conditions. Please consider donating to his amazing non-profit organisation, Joshua Levi Foundation and keep reading to discover more about his experience…

“Swimming in Lake Windermere was an incredible experience.

I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to swim in such a stunning lake to raise awareness and vital funds to support people suffering from mental health challenges and issues of well-being. Mentally, I had been preparing for days before the swim took place. It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t nervous, with that weird butterfly feeling in my stomach. We arrived at the lake on a chilly Tuesday morning at 6am to meet my pilot boat which was Dave Quatermain from QSwim. It had rained overnight, and the sky was still very cloudy and a bit grey, but that wasn’t going to stop us from setting off on this eagerly awaited journey. The water temperature was a very chilly 14.2 degrees celsius—not freezing, but cold enough to cause hypothermia quickly unless acclimatised to such temperatures. It took a moment to get my bearings before I started to swim.

I entered the lake by Ambleside Jetty, where I was able to walk straight into the water until it gradually reached my shoulders. The cold temperature of the water instantly took my breath away; I had to stop and take some deep breaths to compose myself for the task at hand. Mentally and physically, I felt ready, but I was still very nervous as I had never faced a challenge of this magnitude in my life.

My pilot boat (guide boat) was ready, and I was now prepared to set off. I remember putting my face into the water and taking my first few strokes. The water was very murky, and visibility was minimal. The cold and the sensory overload were quite overwhelming, but there was no turning back now. I eased into my swim, maintaining a comfortable pace knowing I had a long journey ahead. I swam for an hour before my first feed, which consisted of a high-carbohydrate powder mixed with maple syrup and warm water. It was actually very tasty and served as a great morale booster. Being exposed to the elements in just my swim shorts for even an hour had taken its toll on my body, my hands and feet felt like lead weights, and my muscles were seizing up. The warm fluids ingested during my feed helped me to get moving again.

I continued to swim, battling the cold and the wind, with even a bit of light rain.

But nothing was going to stop me. As I swam, I focused on the people I wanted to help and the cause for which I was taking on this challenge. I told myself that if I could endure this, it could impact other people’s lives by showing them how to push through when faced with adversity.

I kept pushing on, making good progress, though it was a constant battle with my mental resilience as Lake Windermere seemed vast and endless. Without a visible finish line, I continued to swim through my next few feeds, not knowing how long I had been swimming. At this point, it’s about keeping your mind focused; you will arrive at your end destination when you arrive. They say they don’t tell the swimmer how much time is left or how many miles remain, even if asked. The crew’s job is to keep boosting morale and keep the swimmer focused on the task at hand. When swimmers start asking these questions, it shows they’re losing focus. So, the crew stays as enthusiastic as possible to keep us in that zen headspace. It’s very challenging swimming for hours on end without stopping, even when you feed, as you’re not allowed to touch the boat, and the lake is too deep to touch the bottom. The process of feeding while swimming is quite difficult, and I personally found it hard, given it was my first time doing such a thing.

I had now been swimming for 5 hours and 22 minutes, covering a distance of 12.5 kilometers.

My teeth were chattering, I was freezing cold, and I had the onset symptoms of mild hypothermia. My swimming position had deteriorated, my torso wouldn’t stay straight, and my legs began to sink. My body felt like lead, and my crew said I looked quite grey. At this point, my safety became the main priority, and my crew decided it was time to call it off and get me out of the water.

I really wanted to reach the 6-hour mark, as that’s the qualifying time for my English Channel attempt, but my body just couldn’t handle the cold. Physically, my fitness could have gotten me to the end, but the elements won on this occasion. I am still very proud of my achievement and how far I reached. I’ve learned a lot through this experience, which will help me cross the English Channel to France next year. I’m also very grateful to all those who have supported me along this journey, enabling me to give back to those who need it most. Your love and support are priceless, and I’m truly grateful for all your encouragement.

They say if at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again. And that’s what I will do. I won’t give up, and I will be back again to give it my all and prove to the world that no matter how hard things get, we can prevail—just as I’ll continue to support others in their time of need.”

We are proud that Ocean Lube kept Levi chafe free for the whole of his epic swim, we absolutely love hearing about all your amazing achievements! If you use Ocean Lube and would like to feature in our posts then we would love to hear from you.