Ultra-marathon swimmer Andy Donaldson is set to take on one of the most unique and demanding swims ever attempted in Australia, a 55-kilometre “Dam to Dam” challenge along the iconic Ord River in the East Kimberley on April 28.
Starting at Lake Argyle Dam and finishing at the Kununurra Diversion Dam, Donaldson will attempt to become the first male swimmer to complete the route, following the pioneering swim by Simone Blaser in 2024 who holds the record of first person and fastest female with a time of of 16 hours and 13 minutes.
Simone Blaser, who’s swim was two kilometres shy of Donaldson’s planned swim, will be in Kununurra to support his world record attempt.
Against the dramatic backdrop of the East Kimberley’s ancient gorges and red cliffs, the swim is as visually spectacular as it is physically demanding with fast-flowing currents, warm waters, and the added challenge of navigating a river inhabited by 5,500 freshwater crocodiles.
The ratio equates to one crocodile every 10 metres, or about one every six to nine seconds at Donaldson’s pace.
A safety boat and paddler will be alongside Donaldson throughout the swim.
The 35-year-old Perth-based Scottish-Australian endurance swimmer is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading ultra-marathon swimmers.
A multiple world record holder, Donaldson made history by completing the world’s toughest channel swims, the Ocean’s Seven, in a single year in 2023, as well as record-breaking performances including the fastest ever swim around Manhattan Island.
“I’m in safe hands and I’ve got an experienced crew of locals supporting me, they know what they are doing,” Donaldson said.
“This swim is about more than just distance and breaking records, it’s about inspiring others and telling a story – a story about the land, the people, and what’s possible when you combine purpose with sport.
“It’s well documented that Kununurra has had its fair share of hardships in recent years from Covid to devasting floods that completely isolated the township, and the cost-of-living crisis, all of which has impacted on the region’s vital tourism industry.
“By completing this challenging swim, we’re hoping to shine a light on Kununurra and generate some good news for the town, as well as spark interest in other open water swimmers to take on this challenge themselves.
“If we can get a handful of kids excited about getting in the water and chasing their goals, that’s a win far bigger than any finish time.”
Donaldson’s swim will be ratified by the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA).
President of the Kununurra Crocs Swim Club, Ben Broady said he invited Donaldson to Kununurra to inspire the next generation of swimmers ahead of the opening the new 50-metre pool.
“Andy agreed to come up and run some free swim clinics for the community with Brenton Ford from Effortless Swimming,” Broady said.
“Then he suggested doing a swim while he was here, which quickly turned into a World Record attempt, and we couldn’t be happier.
“We have a real opportunity to showcase the potential of the East Kimberley not just as a destination holiday, but for adventure tourism – we’re already talking about swim camps and clinics in the future.
“We’re aiming to create a legacy to build the Dam-to-Dam Ord River Swim Challenge as a bucket-list for open water swimmers, highlighting the region’s epic adventure tourism offering.
“Swimming tourism is actually huge, and we know tourism and its associated community development creates opportunities, generates economic impact, and then there’s the flow on benefits of inspiring others to be active and community pride that are harder to measure.
“This isn’t just a one-off event. We want to create something that lives on – a swim that people travel across the world to experience,” said Broady.
According to a Market Intelo report on Open Water Swimming Tourism, in 2024 the global market was valued at $1.8 billion and is forecast to hit $4.2 billion by 2033 surged by the popularity of immersive experiences that blend wellness, physical activity and nature-based holidays.
For Donaldson, the challenge extends beyond personal achievement.
Throughout his career, he has raised over $200,000 for charitable causes, using swimming as a platform to promote mental health awareness, environmental conservation, and community connection.
The Dam-to-Dam challenge is proudly supported by a growing group of partners, including Kimberleyland Caravan Park, Kimberley Spirit, Discovery Parks, Ben Broady, Triple J Tours, Aviair, Apex Kununurra, Go Wild, Freshwater Apartments, Best Western, Broome Beach Co, Porsche, Red Equipment, Lake Argyle Cruises and Pronto PR.
The event will culminate in a community celebration at Swim Beach in Kununurra, where locals and visitors will have the opportunity to witness the finish, join the final stretch, and be part of a landmark moment for the region.
