Growing up in
West Kilbride, Scotland, Donaldson started swimming with the North Ayrshire Amateur Swimming Club at age seven. He attended
Largs Academy for secondary school, then graduated from
Loughborough University in 2012. In 2013, he relocated to
Perth, Western Australia to pursue professional swimming. After missing out on his Olympic aspirations, Donaldson retired from competitive swimming in 2016 to work in accounting and finance. At the beginning of the
COVID-19 pandemic, he was working as a
volcano tour guide in
Nicaragua. This marked the beginning of his journey back into competitive open-water swimming, where he found new motivation and a renewed sense of purpose. In 2021, Donaldson made a remarkable comeback, winning the 19.7 km
Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia. He continued to build on this momentum by setting a new record in the 34 km Derwent River Big Swim in Tasmania, and won the 25 km Palm Beach to Shelly Beach Swim in Sydney. He successfully achieved this feat, becoming the first person in history to complete all seven swims in 355 days, setting multiple records along the way. Donaldson's challenge raised significant funds and awareness for the Black Dog Institute, highlighting the importance of mental health. His journey began with a record-breaking
English Channel swim, completing the 33 km crossing in 8 hours, setting a new British record. He then went on to become the first Scottish male to complete the swim between the
North Channel, In New Zealand, Donaldson broke the world record for the
Cook Strait, finishing the 22 km swim in 4 hours and 33 minutes. Despite this, he persisted and went on to break the British record for the
Strait of Gibraltar and
Catalina Channel swims, solidifying his place among the world's elite marathon swimmers. After successfully crossing Japan's
Tsugaru Strait in July 2023, Donaldson completed the
Oceans Seven challenge.
World Records Broken •
Fastest Swim Across the Cook Strait: Completed in 4 hours 33 minutes 50 seconds on 8 March 2023. •
Fastest Relay (Team of 4) Circumnavigation of Bahrain: Completed in 59 hours 59 minutes in 2025.
Epic Swim Maui In July 2024, Donaldson participated in the inaugural Epic Swim Maui, becoming one of the first swimmers to complete the 220 km circumnavigation of Maui over 14 days. This historic expedition aimed to raise awareness for ocean health and sustainability. As a passionate advocate for ocean conservation, Donaldson used this opportunity to draw attention to the importance of preserving marine environments.
Manhattan Island Swim In September 2024, Donaldson broke the world record for circumnavigating Manhattan Island, completing the 45.9 km swim in 5 hours, 41 minutes, and 48 seconds. This achievement further cemented his status as one of the world's greatest marathon swimmers.
Charity Work and Advocacy Donaldson is a dedicated advocate for mental health, sustainability, and the sport of swimming. He uses his swims as platforms to raise awareness and funds for various causes, particularly mental health. His Oceans Seven campaign raised significant funds for the Black Dog Institute, and he has supported other mental health organisations such as the Kai-Fella Foundation of which he is an ambassador. In October 2023, Donaldson successfully completed a 33 km swim from
Rottnest Island to Elizabeth Quay in Perth, raising money for Telethon and the Perron Institute for Neurological Science. He repeated this challenge in October 2024 and October 2025. Through his advocacy, he aims to inspire others to combine sport with a sense of purpose.
Notable Swims and Achievements == Sources ==