One Challenge. Sea and ocean swimming.
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
Act I: The Martinican Challenge – Excellence in Swimwear
The first installment of this epic will take place in the waters of the Caribbean with the crossing of the 80 km from Martinique.
More than just a performance, this challenge constitutes to this day the longest distance ever attempted by a French swimmer in the purest open-water style: in a simple swimsuit, without the help of favorable currents and without any neoprene wetsuit.
The major feature, which makes this attempt incomparable to existing records, lies in the absolute ban on any contact with the safety boat. Here, the use of fins or the slightest rest on the boat is excluded; the swimmer remains fully immersed, making this stage an unprecedented test of physical and mental resilience in the history of the discipline in 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. Departure scheduled for August 20, 2026, off Calvi.
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.
To ensure total transparency regarding this ambitious average speed goal of 3 km/h, the entire adventure will be filmed continuously and broadcast live, including Gilles Rondy's heart rate data in real time.
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.
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.
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
A few open water adventures around the globe
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
Coach
Swimming preparation program manager
Cedric
Treasurer
Treasurer and partner relations
Cedric lb
Web/Comm Secretary
IT tools
Fanny
Doctor
Medical monitoring and expertise
Julien
Doctor
Medical monitoring and expertise
Nadège
Day Night Management 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.
FROM THE BLOG
Latest news
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The Mediterranean Challenge: Swimming Across the Mediterranean, from Calvi to Nice — A World First
Read more: Le Défi Méditerranéen : Traverser la Méditerranée à la Nage, de Calvi à Nice — Première MondialeGilles Rondy is getting ready to swim across the Mediterranean: ~180 km from Calvi to Nice, 60 to 120 hours of continuous swimming, without a wetsuit or physical assistance. A world first dedicated to the protection of...
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Gilles Rondy: 80 km Swim in Martinique in 22 Hours — The Feat That Moved France
Read more: Gilles Rondy : 80 km à la Nage en Martinique en 22 Heures — L’Exploit qui a Ému la FranceOn May 9, 2026, Gilles Rondy completed a historic crossing: an 80 km swim in Martinique, from La Trinité to Fort-de-France, in 22 continuous hours. A performance covered by Le Parisien, Ouest-France, Martinique 1ère and…