‘I do not want to see water for a long time’

Six down and one to go: Ireland’s Steve Redmond has just completed the sixth of seven monumental swims that will make him the most successful endurance swimmer of all time.

Two weeks ago, the 46-year-old, open water swimmer from Ballydehob in West Cork swam the Cook Strait, the stretch of ocean between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It took him 13 hours and 10 minutes.

On Sunday, after a failed attempt last October, he finally conquered the Molokai Channel between Oahu and Molokai Islands in Hawaii. He completed the gruelling challenge in just over 22 hours in what was an emotionally draining and physically painful experience.