about neil

In 2007 he set up a swimming academy, to share his love and respect for the water with others, and inspire them to understand their capabilities and achieve their dreams. And after more than 10 years he made his next step - this time into the open water.
In 2018 Neil decided to take on his first ultra distance unassisted open water swim, circling the island of Malta in a 70km, 22hr endurance feat.

And with that Neil Agius, the ultra distance athlete came to be. Now with bigger distances, longer swims, and world records under his belt, and the list of extreme challenges only just beginning.
In 2019 Neil completed a new endeavour around Gozo, with a distance of 37km in 10hrs. 2020 saw him swim 101km in 28hrs from Sicily to Malta. And in 2021 Neil took on his biggest challenge to date, and his first world record breaking swim, reaching 125km in 52 hours, swimming from Linosa, Italy to Malta.

Cheered on by his new fiancee, and a team of 24 support crew, Neil reached the shores of Malta after a gruelling 2 days of non stop, unaided swimming, completed without a wetsuit, without sleep and only essential sustenance to keep going.

Each of these incredible undertakings have been accomplished in trepidatious conditions. Neil has faced days and nights of freezing, rough waters, countless jellyfish stings, and the fear of sharks and ocean predators. But he keeps going, every time the challenges get bigger, bolder, more dangerous, more physically, mentally and emotionally demanding, and every time he wants to do better than the last. Every time he seeks to push himself forward like nobody else can.

For Neil this is not an exploit in physical coaching. Preparing the body is one small part of his tremendous training. At the heart of these ventures is a deep spirituality, and a commitment to self growth that gives him the control and capacity to understand himself and go far beyond the norm.

The story of Neil

June 1986
On the 6th of June Neil is born on the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta weighing an impressive 4.25kgs
1988
Neil almost drowns in his grandparents home - he is found at the bottom of the pool after reaching for his armbands
1993
Neil starts competing in local swimming competitions, representing Neptunes Water Polo Swimming Club
1999
Neil is selected for the Maltese National Team. He is the youngest member at just 13 years old

“After this, we both took up golf on during the week and started eating fancy dinners at the local Country Club... Ha. This is not what happened at all. We suck at golf and love eating Guzman Y Gomez.”

Neil Agius

2001
Neil competes at the Games of the Small States. 80 athletes are sent from Malta, Neil is the youngest member of the squad
2003
Represented Malta at the Long Course World Championships in Barcelona.

relume

verb

[ri-loom]
To relight or rekindle (a light, flame, etc.)

2004
Neil competes for Malta at the Olympic Games in Athens, and meets hero of the day, Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps

2008
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Co founded Swimming Workshop - Learn to swim school of all ages
2011
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Sets his first record when he wins the Double Channel Crossing Open Water Championship (Malta-Gozo-Malta - 11km) in 2 hours, 38 minutes. 
2012
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Sets his second record, winning the Gozo-Malta Open Water Championship (5.5km) in 1 hour, 8 minutes
2018
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Time to go far - Neil completes his first ultra marathon, swimming 70km around Malta in 22 hours.
2018
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Founded Wave of Change to build awareness to the accelerating climate emergency and how we can all be involved in the solution.
2019
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Another Ultra: Neil swims 37km non-stop around Gozo, completing the course in 10 hours, 2 minutes.
2020
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The first triple-digit Ultra: Neil swims the channel between Sicily and Malta. This 101km crossing sees Neil swimming non-stop for 28 hours. 
2020
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 Honoured for his achievements in swimming when he is granted the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Points of Light Award. 
2021
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World Record Setting: Neil clocks the longest unassisted currently-neutral swim by swimming from Linos to Malta - 125.7km in 52 hours. (Pending World Record ratification from the Marathon Swimming Federation)
2021
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Receives the Gieh Ir- Republica Award from The President of Malta for services to sport.
2021
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Neil wins Sports Man of the Year!
2021
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Founded the Ocean Festival. This series of open water swim challenges functions as a community-based platform for open water swimmers and sports enthusiasts to come together and furthers the Wave of Change environmental campaigning projects. 
Today
Today Relume is a team run by two guys with the same mission in life - To wake up every day with a choice to do what we love to do, build meaningful relationships and do great work.

You've heard our story, it's now time for the world to hear yours.