Geographical Society 2018 - Inducted into the Ice Swimming Hall of Fame 2017 - SAB Environmentalist of the Year 2017 - The Sunday Times Alternative Rich List for "people who represent the most inspiring side of humanity" 2017 – Appointed as an Adjunct Professor of International Law at the University of Cape Town 2015 – Doctor of Science (honoris causa) from Plymouth University 2015 – Selected by Men's Journal as one of "50 Most Adventurous Men in the World" 2015 – National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2013 – Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts 2013 – Appointed as the United Nations Patron of the Oceans 2013 – Inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame 2013 – Honorary Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society 2011 – Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, London 2011 – President's Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame 2010 – Appointed a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum 2009 – Awarded the highest honour in South Africa – the Order of Ikhamanga (Gold Class) for his "exceptional sporting triumphs, humanitarian feats and creating consciousness about the negative effects of global warming". This was only the third time a sportsman had received the honour. 2009 – Best Project for the Environment – Beyond Sport Awards 2008 – Out There Adventurer of the Year 2007 – Fellow of The Explorers Club, New York 2007 – Paul Harris Fellowship Award by Rotary International 2007 – Sports Adventurer of the Year Award by the French Sports Academy 2006 – Freedom of the City of London Personal life In 2009 Pugh married Antoinette Malherbe, whom he met at school. Pugh is a descendant of Baptist missionary William Carey. His father's cousin, Carey Heydenrych, participated in the "Great Escape" from the German POW camp Stalag Luft III during the Second World War. References External links Official website of Lewis Pugh TED talk on swimming across the North Pole TED talk on swimming at Mt. Everest 1969 births Living people English male swimmers Male long-distance swimmers Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge Alumni of Camps Bay High School Explorers of the Arctic University of Cape Town alumni Alumni of St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown English lawyers Sportspeople from Plymouth, Devon Recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga Special Air Service soldiers People educated at Mount House School, Tavistock