I was recognised at the BBC Green Sport Awards last year and was able to present athlete of the year Imogen Grant with her award on stage.

That left me inspired to take it to the next level. To see what I could do to amplify my messaging, raise more money, push the sustainable message that comes with my sport of open water swimming.

The challenge was to swim the three largest lakes in the UK – Loch Lomond, Lake Windermere, Llyn Tegid – and to try to do it all in 24 hours. It had not been done before so I just took it from there.

The total distance of the challenge was 55km (34 miles) and it would be the longest swim of my career so far.

It began at the biggest of the lakes – Loch Lomond – at midnight.

I had never done night swimming before, so that was daunting and I needed to plan for that.

Loch Lomond is also probably one of the darkest lochs in the world. It is 400-500m deep and it is like you are just staring into an enormous black hole. It is scary and nothing could really prepare me for that.

That leg of the challenge was tough, it was brutal – 14 degree waters, nearly eight hours of exposure, cold air temperature.

But I broke the timing record for that loch, and I jumped in the car and thought the hardest part of the challenge was done.

Once I had got the biggest one out of the way, it would feel like I was coming back down the mountain – but it very much did not feel like that.

I was now sleep deprived, knackered, frustrated, and probably a little bit delirious. I started refuelling because I had burned around 7,000 calories, but I have never been that tired before in my life and fell asleep, dropping the pasta all over me.

That was probably the toughest moment. Waking up covered in pasta and asking my dad how long until Windermere, only to find out it was 20 minutes away and I didn’t even feel like I had had more than five minutes break.

My forearms were completely swollen but the competitive nature in me wanted to see it through.

Thank goodness Bala Lake was a small one because I don’t think I could have taken much more.

It was amazing and inspiring to have so many people there at the finish line, but I was also just happy to know that I was going to be in my bed in a few hours.

Surfers Against Sewage – a UK charity that campaigns for cleaner oceans, lakes and rivers – who I raised money for, were amazing. They were a support throughout the build-up and the day and I have made genuine friends through them now.