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RIP DAVENPORT



NOT PERFECT. NOT FAMOUS. JUST STUBBORNLY PRESENT.

Ultra-Endurance.
Water Safety.
Emergency Response.



the QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS



I’ve never been interested in comfort.


Not because I’m particularly tough. Mostly because I make bad decisions, and I’m terrible at learning lessons.


Over the years I've run across countries, swum across straits, hauled myself through deserts, slept under trees, got lost, got injured, missed cut-offs, quit a few things, finished a few others, and generally spent an unreasonable amount of time asking: "I haven't quite thought this through", or "I wonder what happens if I keep going?"


Some adventures worked.


Some didn't.


Some never even started.


Most made for a good story afterwards.


This page is a collection of those stories.



currently brewing



"Upcoming poor life choices. Because apparently I've learned nothing."


August 2026

Öresund Strait Finswim 15km.

My third supported attempt at crossing the Öresund Strait between Denmark and Sweden. Short on distance, heavy on logistics, shipping traffic, cold water, and fast currents.


2027

Running the Length of Sweden, 2,000km Attempting to improve my self-supported fastest known time of 27 days, 5 hours. Goal: sub-25 days. The result will be submitted to the Fastest Known Time (FKT) database for verification.


2027

The Long Fin A 50km continuous bifin finswim attempt.

An application has been submitted to Guinness World Records. If successful, it may become the first recognised record of its kind. Which seems a reasonable excuse for several hours of self-inflicted suffering.


2027

Lake Vänern 150

An unsupported world-first finswim of Sweden's and the European Union's largest lake.

150km from north to south, completed through staged daily swims while towing a kayak carrying all food, equipment, and supplies.


Sweden to Bornholm

A planned open-water finswim crossing from Sweden to the Danish island of Bornholm.

Timing remains uncertain while the practicalities catch up with the idea.



endurance



"The body complains. The mind negotiates. We carry on anyway."


Running the Length of Sweden (2024). 1,956km

Fastest self-supported known time of 27 days, 5 hours with a 44l backpack only.


Running the Length of Sweden (2022 Attempt) with running cart.


Run Around Lake Vänern (381km)

Self-supported around Sweden's and the European Union's largest lake in 109 hours with 40l backpack only.


Trans Scania 246 km largely self-supported Ultra (2025)


Trans Scania 246 km largely self-supported Ultra (2023)


Kullamannen by UTMB (2024) 100 Miles


Kullamannen by UTMB (2023) 100 Miles


Kullamannen by UTMB (2022) 100km


Tjörnarparen 100 Mile (2023)


Tjörnarparen 100km (2022)


HUB 100km Beach Ultra


XTERRA Ultra Trail


XTERRA Swimrun


Ironman Copenhagen (2021)


Ironman Copenhagen (2019)


RipRuns 500km


24-Hour Cycling Time Trial



swimming & finswimming



"Long distances. Cold water. Questionable decision-making."


Öresund Strait Swim

15km (2025 Attempt)


Öresund Strait Swim

15km (2022 Attempt)


Klagshamn to Malmö Swim

12km, totally unsupported.


Gozo to Malta Channel Swim

5.6km, supported.


Kenmare River Swim

42km unsupported finswim in 11 hours and 47 minutes.


Kenmare River Shakedown Swim

Unsupported 5km training finswim.


Equator Crossing Swim

Swam across the Equator from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere during a Royal Navy hands-to-bathe stop.



masks, rubber & neoprene



"Water has a habit of putting things into perspective."


SSI & AIDA Safety Freediver (Pool & Depth)


AIDA APNEA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary (2026).

Competition Performance Safety Freediver


Baltic Freediving


Bodyboarding European Slabs


Water Rescue & Safety Operations


Rescue Swimming



EXPEDITIONS, MISADVENTURES & really bad decisions



"Not every plan survives contact with reality."


Backpacking & Hitchhiking Across Europe.


Manhauling Across Mongolia

Failed attempt to become the first person to cross Mongolia from east to west on foot.


Gobi Desert Crossing

1,600km on foot with Bactrian camels in 52 days.


Death Valley Manhaul

Failed attempt to cross Death Valley.


Climbing in Germany & Austria

Climbed a few mountains and molehills.


Walking the Island of Legends with a Donkey

52km self-supported trek around Gozo.



NO FLASHY PHOTOS



No drone footage.

No cinematic edits.

No carefully curated personal brand.


Just words.


The photos, adventures, successes, failures, questionable decisions and occasional evidence that I leave the house can be found on Instagram.


This website provides the context.


Instagram provides the proof.


SNAPSHOTS

© RIP DAVENPORT, 2024 - 2026. All rights reserved. This site is protected under GDPR and Swedish law.

This is the official website of Rip Davenport.
www.ripdavenport.com

Any other website, account, or claim using my name is unofficial and unaffiliated.

Site design, words, scars, and every rough edge? That’s me.