Eight-year-old Leo smashes 5km swim as part of mammoth fundraiser
An eight-year-old boy took everyone by surprise when he swam 5km, including two lengths of butterfly, as part of a mammoth charity fundraiser.
Leo Garnett, from Nunhead, took the plunge at Dulwich College indoor pool on Friday as part of the world’s largest fundraising swim – Swimathon 2025.
Leo’s mum, Anna Garcia, 44, who also took part in the challenge, said: “He began to suffer as he approached the 4km mark and he told us later his belly was cramping and his arms hurt.
“He didn’t want to tell us in case we pulled him out. He said giving up was not an option.”
Seeing him struggle, Leo’s older brother, Lawrence, 11, jumped into his lane and swam alongside him for the last 50 lengths.
Mrs Garcia said: “That gave him a big boost.
“It was incredible to see him push so hard, losing very little pace even when he was in pain.”
Leo had promised to finish his challenge in style, with a final lap of butterfly.
True to his word, he completed his 5km with not one but two lengths of the technical stroke, cheered on by his friends and family from the sidelines.
The youngster finished the 5km swim in just 2hrs 5mins, having raised £3,040 for charity so far.
Mrs Garcia said: “Leo’s been swimming since he was three months old.
“We used to live in Gibraltar and everyone had a pool, I was so scared of him not knowing how to swim. He swims in the Dulwich prep school squad and also trains with Dulwich Dolphins. He totals three to four hours of swimming a week.”
Leo’s swim is one of 122 fundraising swims organised by Charlton Lido, Greenwich, where Leo and his mum regularly attend swimming sessions together.
They joined a further 1,054 fundraising challenges hosted in 68 GLL pools – the charity which runs Charlton Lido – for Swimathon 2025, with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK, end of life charity Marie Curie and Swimathon Foundation.
Mrs Garcia said: “I swim to challenge myself firstly but realised I could also raise money for Cancer Research – the disease has affected family friends.
“Swimathon believes Leo is the youngest swimmer attempting a 5km swim as part of the challange. We are all so proud of him.”
The Swimathon Foundation is a registered charity which promotes health and wellbeing through swimming.
GLL’s head of sport and aquatics Andrew Clark said: “With more than 1,000 taking part, Swimathon 2025 promises to be one of the biggest challenges of its kind we’ve hosted.
“Not only are Cancer Research UK, end of life charity Marie Curie and Swimathon Foundation going to get a boost out of this – it’s also offering many the chance to start a lifetime fitness habit.”
To donate to Leo’s fundraiser, Click Here.
Pictured top: Leo Garnett with his mum Anna Garcia, after his 5km swim on Friday (Picture: Anna Garcia)