EXCLUSIVE: Hero student Matthew Hollingham completed the gruelling triathlon in memory of his beloved fiancée, saying: “I did it all for Lovisa, and I would do it again to see her one more time”
Devoted Matthew Hollingham has completed an extraordinary Arctic-to-Africa triathlon in memory of his late fiancée.
Matthew, 25, took 61 days to swim, cycle and run 2,500 miles across 10 countries including almost the full length of continental Europe.
It is believed to be the world’s furthest A-to-B ironman triathlon – all inspired by Lovisa Arnesson-Cronhamre, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in 2023.
Matthew said: “I did it all for Lovisa, and I would do it again to see her one more time. She is, and will always be, my fiancee.”
He completed his charity feat yesterday in Tangiers, Morocco, where he said: “I have swum 2.5 miles across the Arctic Circle, run 37 back-to-back marathons, cycled 2,500 miles through eight countries for 61 continuous days. I pushed through mild hypothermia, a strained quad, heatwaves and a broken-down support vehicle.
“There were two days without any gear, wildfires and toxic air, heatstroke, 25lb of weight loss, convulsions, splitting knee pain and grief. All to raise money for children’s charities.”
Proud mum Sue said as he neared the end of his adventure: “Matthew has been on a journey through grief, love and acceptance.
“This triathlon has been a part of that but it has been worrying to witness as a mother. Seeing the physical pain he’s been in has not been easy but l’m enormously proud of him because his 61-day triathlon has been the ultimate endurance test.
“My husband and I were in the Arctic Circle for the swim – where there was a genuine fear of hypothermia as the lake had been frozen a week earlier.
“We’ve cheered him on from Lovisa’s family home in Sweden and in Cologne, Germany.
“We will be here at the end in Tangier, Morocco, and I will be thrilled to see him finish for entirely selfish reasons but Lovisa would be proud.”
Quadruple World Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington, 49, said: “A mind-bendingly epic feat.”
Matthew, from Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, was raising money for charities including Save the Children. He and Lovisa, 25, studied at the University of Glasgow. He was doing a masters in mechanical engineering; she graduated with a degree in astrophysics.
They were both working on doctorates at Penn State University in Pennsylvania when she was killed while out jogging. In 2024 the driver, also a student, pleaded guilty to one charge relating to the accident and was sentenced to two years in jail.
Matthew’s friend Jack Hughes filmed his triathlon.
The footage will now be edited into a documentary to be shown at the Centre Film Festival in Pennsylvania in November. Jack said: “Matt’s experience with loss has shown me that grief is not a one-dimensional emotion. Grief typically carries a negative connotation, but Matt has found a way to balance the painful feelings with something positive.
“The goal of the documentary is to show people how grief doesn’t have to be debilitating and can instead lift people up in memoryof a loved one.”
Before his latest adventure, Everton fan Matthew had hiked 450 miles from Glasgow to London in 17 days and walked the width of northern England along Hadrian’s Wall in just 36 hours.
Money from his fundraiser will also be shared with a graduate student scholarship in physics at Penn, set up by Lovisa’s parents as their daughter’s legacy.
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