One Challenge. Sea and ocean swimming.

🌊 Départ le 23 Août 2026 a 10h – Le Défi Méditerranéen – FOLLOW THE LIVE STREAM HERE

Swimming across the Mediterranean, from Corsica to the mainland, in a swimsuit and without assistance, represents one of the most ambitious open-water challenges ever conceived.

Beyond athletic performance, this project carries a strong message: returning to the purity of the stroke, swimming in the ocean as it is, to highlight the urgent need to protect the Mediterranean, and the seas and oceans where every swimmer wishes to evolve. This crossing of nearly 200 kilometers, which would be a world first under these conditions, requires rigorous preparation, precise logistics, and committed partners.

THE CHALLENGES

Premier Acte — Réussi ✅ : Le Défi Martiniquais – L’Excellence du Maillot de Bain

Le premier volet de cette épopée s’est déroulé le 9 mai 2026 dans les eaux des Caraïbes avec la traversée réussie des 80 km from Martinique, de La Trinité à Fort-de-France, en 22 heures de nage continue.
Au-delà de la performance, ce défi constitue à ce jour la plus grande distance jamais parcourue par un nageur français dans le style le plus pur de l’eau libre : en simple maillot de bain, sans l’aide de courants porteurs et sans aucune combinaison néoprène.

La particularité majeure, qui rend cette réussite incomparable aux records existants, résidait dans the absolute ban on any contact with the safety boat. Aucune palme, aucun repos sur le bateau : le nageur est resté en immersion totale du départ à l’arrivée, faisant de cette étape un test de résilience physique et mentale réussi, sans précédent dans l’histoire de la discipline en France.

Second Act: The Mediterranean Challenge – The Calvi-Nice Odyssey

The project will reach its peak with the monumental crossing between Calvi and Nice, a 160 km straight-line route that can reach 180 km under the influence of the currents. Départ prévu le dimanche 23 août 2026 a 10h, au large de Calvi (décision finale vendredi selon la météo).
In a quest for absolute authenticity true to the original spirit of the discipline, this crossing will be carried out without any assistance:
no contact with the boat and no technical equipment will facilitate the effort.

Pour garantir une transparence totale face à cet objectif ambitieux de 3 km/h de moyenne, la trace GPS précise de Gilles sera visible en direct, incluant ses données cardiaques en temps réel, complétée par des vidéos régulières rassemblées sur une chaîne YouTube dédiée.
In the event of an emergency extraction for safety, returning to the exact GPS exit point will be the strict rule, ensuring that every meter of this wild Mediterranean is conquered by the sole strength of the body and willpower.

Become a part of this historic mission!
Don't forget that every donation brings us closer to our goal
> Board with us by clicking here! <

180 km
Calvi-Nice

the shortest way

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60 to 120
hours

According to
currents

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Minimum Equipment

No neoprene, no gloves, no booties, no wetsuit

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Transparency and zero contact

Suivi GPS en direct et vidéos régulières

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The association Challenge, Swim, Sea and Ocean

The association« Challenge, Swim, Sea and Ocean »promotes open-water swimming while working to protect the Mediterranean. It guarantees total transparency by donating all of its potential financial surpluses to environmental causes. Its flagship action is the support of the human and ecological challenge of the Calvi-Nice crossing.

We need you!

WHO AM I?

My name is Gilles Rondy and I live in the Basque Country with my wife Anne-Laure and my daughters Méloée and Thaïs, a region where the ocean is at once a backdrop, a landmark, and a source of balance.
Originally from Brittany, I grew up in a culture shaped by the ocean, before living in Martinique and then settling in the South-West. Wherever I have put down my roots, water has been my common thread....
Today I am putting my experience at the service of ocean conservation. Through the «Mediterranean Challenge,» I want to transform a sporting feat into an engaged act for the environment.

PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO

A few open water adventures around the globe

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MEET US

The project team

Patrick

Boat owner

Equipment – Adjust the catamaran's speed to the swimmer's speed

Anne-Laure

Partnerships and Logistics Manager

Partner relations

Pierre

Maritime Logistics and
Weather

Weather/Currents Technical Expertise

Loic

Logistics

Arrival Coordinator

Gwenael

Logistics

Day/Night Management Team

Thierry

Skipper

Skipper

Frederic

Swim coach

Swimming preparation program manager

Cedric

Treasurer

Treasurer and partner relations

Cedric lb

Web/Comm Secretary

IT tools

Fanny

Doctor

Medical monitoring and expertise

Bruno

Crossing Coach

Swimming monitoring and expertise

Nadège

Day and Night Supervisory Team

Medical monitoring and expertise

Do you want to contribute to environmental protection and get excited about an unprecedented sports challenge?

Make a donation

The donations will be used to finance the unassisted, nonstop swim across the sea between Calvi and Nice without a wetsuit, specifically the safety measures around Gilles.

The accounts will be distributed to all members of the association during the general meeting.

No profit will be made; the objective is to donate funds to an association for the protection of seas and oceans.

Gilles, along with the other board members, will not receive any direct or indirect compensation

Tax reduction

Individuals can receive a tax deduction equal to 66 % of the amount of their donation, up to a limit of 20 % of their taxable income.

For businesses, you can receive a corporate income tax reduction equal to 60 % of the amount of these payments, capped at €20,000 or 5‰ (5 per thousand) of the company’s annual revenue excluding tax.

If the cap is exceeded, the excess can be carried forward to the following 5 financial years.

I'm making my contribution!

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