Ultraswimmer Neil Agius delivers powerful lesson on life and mental health at Netflix HQ

“In 2021, in the swim where I broke my first world record, I started to hallucinate.”

Maltese people are likely to be familiar with the ordeal ultra-distance swimmer Neil Agius had to pass through on his way to smashing the world record for the longest continuous unassisted open water swim.

Recently, however, he shared the challenges and lessons learned from that effort with an entirely different audience.

Speaking at the London office of streaming giant Netflix, the Maltese athlete used his own experience as a metaphor during the session, which brought together team members from the UK, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.

The talk was part of a broader initiative to create space for reflection and personal growth within high-performing environments.

Mr Agius shared the breathwork technique he developed, saying it “helped bring me back to my power” by overcoming the persistent hallucinations that were distracting him from his goal.

In a post shared on LinkedIn, he described the experience as a “special moment,” adding that “it was a chance to pause, reflect, and take a journey inward together.”

Mr Agius highlighted how the workshop drew on the ‘kai.zen.hub’ experience, a wellness-focused initiative co-founded by himself and his partner Lara Vella. The session included “breathwork, storytelling, and honest conversations about success, failure, and the courage it takes to move beyond our limits.”

Known for his composure during ruthless open-water swims – even when stung by jellyfish – Neil Agius shared that stepping into this experience still brought its own sense of anxiety.

“Walking into a space like Netflix, I’ll be honest, I felt nervous,” he reflected.

“But that vulnerability became part of the experience, and it helped create a deeper sense of connection,” he continued.

“This was a reminder that even in fast-paced environments, there’s value in simply making space to be present,” he concluded.

Neil Agius