UK 17-year-old Swimmer Barnaby Ryder Aims For Historic Dubai World Islands Attempt

The 17-year-old, who ranks sixth in UK open water swimming for under-18s, will attempt the 24-kilometre swim during his half-term break from Mount Kelly, one of the UK’s leading swimming schools.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about the Dubai World Islands swim since we got the green light to do it a few weeks ago,” Ryder—who lived in Dubai for ten years before returning to the UK—told Arabian Business in an exclusive interview.

Men’s mental health—a priority for Ryder

“I started my open water swimming in Dubai doing 1.6 km swims with my Dad as part of the open water events hosted by Super Sports,” the Gems World Academy and Brighton College Dubai alumnus said.

The current record for circumnavigating the World Islands stands at 9 hours and 45 minutes, however, Ryder strongly believes he can surpass this benchmark.

“The current record of 9 hours and 45 minutes is very impressive, but I feel if the weather is on our side I can improve on that. However, the swim is not just about the time—it is about me completing the swim as the youngest person and gaining more experience. I know the pace I will need to be holding and have been practising it in training,” he said.

The Dubai attempt serves as preparation for Ryder’s main challenge: swimming the English Channel in June 2025, a feat he’s dreamed of since age 12.

“I have been asking my parents to swim the English Channel since I was around 12. They kept saying ‘wait till you are older and see if you still want to do it’. The urge to swim the Channel did not go away,” he explained.

Ryder’s Channel swim will raise funds for men’s mental health research and awareness. When asked why this was a main objective, Ryder said: “Even at the age of 17 I have seen far too many boys struggle in silence with mental health issues. The signs are not always as obvious as you would think. The charity I am swimming for focuses on ground-breaking research and raising awareness. I love the positive connection between good mental health and swimming, especially cold-water swimming,” he said.

A day in the life of British teen swimmer Barnaby Ryder

Ryder’s training regime at Mount Kelly demonstrates the dedication required for such challenges.

Starting at 5:15 AM daily, Ryder completes two-hour pool sessions, attends classes, participates in gym workouts, and even finds time to coach younger swimmers.

His weekly schedule includes eight training sessions, totalling over 17 hours in the pool and covering approximately 50 kilometres.

“I keep my self-motivated during long swims and sessions by thinking of my goals and how each session and each meter swam I am progressing and getting closer to my dreams and goals,” he said adding that another big motivation for him is “how much thinking time I get whilst I swim which helps me deal with other aspects of life. I also am motivated with how amazing I feel after I swim, the endorphin hit is incredible and makes you feel positive and happy like you could take on anything which I love.”

However, the Channel swim is not without its challenges, with water temperatures below 16 degrees Celsius, no wet-suit permitted, and obstacles including currents, shipping lanes, weather conditions, and jellyfish, he revealed.

Current winter training sees Ryder practising in 10-degree sea temperatures and sub-5-degree lakes.

Ryder’s journey is being documented through Lane4Podcast, available across listening platforms and Instagram, where followers can track his progress through races and training sessions leading up to the Channel crossing.

His Dubai World Islands attempt will be supported by Super Sports and a team including his father. They will manage safety protocols and his nutrition strategy throughout the swim.

“I picked the Dubai World Islands swim because Dubai is a very special place for me having lived there for 10 years. So it feels like home in that sense,” he said.