Toby Robinson, Olympian Marathon Swimmer, Paris, and Bringing Swimming back to the Thames in London

About this episode

Toby Robinson discusses his swimming career and advocacy for clean open water in the UK, particularly focusing on the River Thames.

Toby Robinson is an international swimmer, representing England at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and Great Britain at the Paris Olympic Games 2024. He is passionate about swimming, especially in open water. He is a staunch advocate and campaigner for clean open water in the UK, especially the River Thames in London. In September 2025, he was a key participant in a Thames relay swim from the source to London, highlighting sewage pollution in UK waterways. He is an ambassador for "Friends of the Thames", which promotes the restoration and protection of the river. In late 2025 he swam in the revived historic Lords and Commons race in the Thames in London. He discusses all of these things in this podcast.

People in this episode

Host: Stanley Ulijaszek

Guest: Toby Robinson

Topics covered

• Olympic swimming
• open water swimming
• environmental advocacy
• Thames River
• pollution awareness

Keywords

• Toby Robinson
• Olympian
• open water
• Thames
• pollution
• swimming
• environmental advocacy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Friends of the Thames

Places: England, UK, River Thames

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• Sian Richardson – Events and Adventuring with the Bluetits · March 3, 2026 · 20 min
• Lord James Bethell and a Vision for a Swimmable Thames in London · February 23, 2026 · 17 min
• Stanley Ulijaszek on Swimming and Summer Solstice Rituals · December 16, 2025 · 18 min