What began with a relatively “easy” triathlon in London quickly escalated into one of the most extreme endurance feats ever attempted. From a brutal outing in Arizona to a fatigue-soaked effort in Cape Town; from a sleep-shattered schedule in Perth to the scorching heat of Dubai; from Rio de Janeiro’s crushing humidity to the unforgiving logistics and icy brutality of Antarctica – Spencer Matthews has officially completed PROJECT SE7EN: seven full-distance triathlons on seven continents, all within a mere three weeks.
Matthews took on the challenge to raise awareness for men’s mental health, but he didn’t just finish – he shattered the existing world record as well. That record previously stood at four years. The speed at which Matthews completed the series makes his achievement all the more staggering.
Perhaps the most striking detail: before embarking on PROJECT SE7EN, the former reality-TV personality had never completed a Long Distance triathlon. Over the course of 21 days, he clocked seven swims of 3.8 km, seven 180 km rides, and seven full marathons of 42.2 km each. Yet extreme challenges are hardly new to him; just last year he ran 30 desert marathons in 30 consecutive days.
“I can’t believe it’s now behind me… I’ll never put myself in that position again,” Matthews said at the finish line in Antarctica. “Thanks to my incredible team for the support.”