Ash Dykes

About

Welsh adventurer and extreme athlete celebrated for having become the first person to ever trek across both Mongolia and Madagascar - two world records he achieved before even turning 25. He also earned a world record for becoming the first person to walk along the 4,000-mile entirety of the Yangtze River, which is the longest river in all of Asia. He authored a book called Mission Possible: A Decade of Living Dangerously and was named the UK ambassador for the charity Malaria No More UK. 

Before Fame

He grew up in Old Colwyn, Wales, where he attended Ysgol Bryn Elian. He worked at a local fish and chips shop and as a lifeguard to save enough money for his first excursion to China.

Trivia

Among his numerous accolades, he was ranked at #7 on Wales Online's list of "50 Coolest Men in Wales" in the year 2015. He was also the recipient of the Welsh Adventurer of the Year Award in 2016 and named "one of the world's most fearless outdoor men" by FHM Magazine the following year. He was also named the ambassador for Xinzhou, Shaanxi Province in China, where he is hailed as a national celebrity.

Family Life

He has expressed that his parents have been tremendously supportive of his dreams, and that he and his father share an extremely close relationship.

Associated With

He was applauded by fellow extreme adventurer Ranulph Fiennes. He was named on a list of 50 Coolest Men in Wales, which also included pop singer Gruff Rhys, comedian Rhod Gilbert, and rugby star Dan Biggar.