In April 2019, world-renowned swimmer Ben Lecomte became the first person ever to complete a journey across the Mississippi River. To be exact, it took Lecomte 81 days to swim the approximately 3,275 km from the north to the south of the River. Amazingly, the man, who was then 51 years old, chose to take this journey despite of the strong currents and treacherous waters he was likely to encounter during the crossing. As documented on his website, Lecomte saw the challenge as a way to raise awareness about the pollution of the world’s oceans and rivers, spread the message of sustainability and to inspire others ‘to take on their own challenge’ or ‘pursue their dreams.’
At the time of his adventure, Lecomte had already swum a total of 5,100 km across the Pacific Ocean and had thus become the first person to swim from Tokyo to San Francisco. He had accomplished that feat in roughly 169 days back in 1998. With this, he had amassed a total of six Guinness World Records from his many epic swims.
For his Mississippi River adventure, Lecomte began his journey in Lake Itasca, Minnesota. Before diving in, the swimmer had set high-security precautions in place and was equipped with a support team, snake-bite suit, ultrasonic tag, sealant for cuts and a helmet fitted with a GoPro camera. Once in the water, Lecomte swam a total of eight hours a day and laid up to 18 hours in the support boat every night. To stay mentally buoyant, the swimmer penned and tweeted about his journey daily.
When Lecomte finally arrived in Louisiana after months of swimming, he was successfully able to raise $1.1m donations in support of environmental organization Oceanic Global, making his personal commitment to saving the environment even more remarkable. As reported by the Hanging Garden magazine, Lecomte has “set the fire within himself to pipe up and bring forth change,” through these difficult yet inspiring feats.
Throughout his journey, Lecomte encountered and overcame many challenges, both physical and mental. For example, in a press release, Lecomte mentioned that he “nearly lost([his] motivation” to continue the swim due to the lack of progress made during his first few days into the swim. “I had to overcome this mental challenge because in long-distance swims it is just as important to stay motivated as it is to stay physically strong,” he added.
The Legacy Benjamin Lecomte Has Left Behind
Benjamin Lecomte has become an inspiration to many people around the world, providing them with the courage and passion to set and pursue their own goals. He has also managed to raise awareness of environmental issues, using his swims to draw attention to the concerning effects of plastic pollution facing our oceans and rivers. His efforts to discuss and heighten the matter have inspired many people to take action and contribute to conservation efforts.
Lecomte has shown that determination and hard work can result in success, regardless of the challenge that is set. He has been a role model for others, showing that with enough drive and commitment, anything is achievable.
In an emotional Instagram post finally arriving at the end of the Mississippi River, Lecomte wrote, “Today we showed that it is possible to persevere and be successful no matter the challenges.” By these words alone it’s clear this adventure is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
The Environment
Lecomte’s swim was also to pinpoint the devastating effect that plastic pollution has had on our oceans and Mississippi River. Through this epic feat, the swimmer managed to raise awareness for sustainable living and the importance of conserving our natural resources.
Lecomte documented his journey on Instagram, where he shared pictures and posts of the amount of plastic pollution he encountered in the river. In an interview with BBC World Service, the swimmer said the main goal of his swim was “to bring attention to the plastic pollution that is everywhere.”
Lecomte is not the only aquatic researcher to have gathered alarming amounts of plastic garbage during his travels. Scientists have shared shocking analysis of how much plastic garbage is present in our oceans and rivers, a prominent example being the estimated 11.6 million tons of plastic floating in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Awareness that was Generated from the Swim
The incredible attention that Lecomte managed to obtain underlines how important it is to bring attention to such matters and the power of one person. Through his swim, the public has been alerted to the amount of plastic pollution that inhabits our waters and oceans, showing them how critical it is to take action as soon as possible.
Governmental leaders have adopted the issue of plastic pollution to their agendas, tackling the matter through policy changes. The attention that Lecomte has drawn to this concern has provided the public with an incentive to take action and join in the fight against plastic pollution.
Lecomte has also managed to elevate the issue to international standards, as his journey gained international press coverage. He was followed by media all around the world, making his cause much more widespread than originally anticipated. This demonstrates the power that the media has to create attention for important causes.
The Press Coverage Received
The magnificence of Lecomte’s swim resulted in an immense following on social media as people were inspired, awed, and motivated by his journey. Through these platforms, Lecomte was able to keep track of his daily progress and gain an even larger international fan base. Companies were eager to join in on the mission and consequently, the team received the support of various sponsors and brand partners.
Lecomte’s swim was also followed by traditional media, such as the New York Times, Guardian, and BBC News, ultimately unveiling the true power of the press to create awareness and attention. Furthermore, the multimedia coverage of the journey has enabled the team to create a documentary to further spread their message and reach even more people around the world.
The Technological Contributions
During Lecomte’s time in the Mississippi, the swimmer was kept afloat with the help of special equipment, technology, and facilities given to him by his partners. His wetsuit was equipped with tracking tags, allowing his team to monitor his condition and keep in contact. Lecomte was also given a helmet with a built-in GoPro, providing the media with more footage to document his swim, as well as keeping him safe from any near-dangerous creatures.
Amongst all the technological advancements that allowed for a safer swim, Lecomte was also given a GPS tracker (known as SPOT) by his sponsor, Trace. This enabled the team to follow his day-to-day progress and location, in case of any inconvenience. Therefore, he was given reliable technology that met the tough safety requirements his swim had imposed.
The Psychological Aspects of Swimming
Throughout his swim, Lecomte’s mental strength and motivation played a big role in taking him through the journey. The swimmer was able to cope with tough conditions and taught himself to overcome any mental setbacks he encountered. For example, Lecomte was reported to have taken a break from swimming to spend extra time in his support boat to break his physical and mental exhaustion.
To emotionally manage the tough conditions, Lecomte wrote blogs, spoke to his wife over the phone every day, and used the power of visualization to motivate himself. Furthermore, the swimmer was also aided by a mental coach, whom he would talk to on days when he felt especially tired. This assistance from an expert formulated a necessary space for Lecomte to discuss his feelings and regain energy to finish his swim.
By dedicating so much of his energy and effort towards a cause that he was passionate about, Lecomte was able to survive his swim through the Mississippi. He succeeded in using mental management to stay healthy and motivated during his entire journey.
