How Bon Charge Helped Neil Agius Swim 271 Kilometers in Open Water

The Olympian and endurance record-breaker reveals how red light therapy tools from Bon Charge became the cornerstone of his recovery routine

When you’re fighting the tides, chilling temperatures, dehydration and muscle fatigue for 15+ hours, recovery isn’t just an appreciated tack-on to a fitness regimen — it’s a necessity. Nobody knows that better than Neil Agius, a former Olympian and world record-holding swimmer. 

This past summer, Agius became the first person ever to swim for over 105 hours, spanning 271 kilometers in open water over seven days around the island of Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea. He’s collected other records in the past as well, including the longest, unassisted, current-neutral ocean swim in 2024.

Building up the endurance needed to accomplish these feats requires more than just grit and a desire to make history — it demands precision. Agius needs to balance intense training with strategic recovery to gradually condition his body for physical challenges, and for that, he trusts wellness tech brand Bon Charge. 

“I was doing research to find ways to replenish my body, mind and muscles during the short periods of recovery that I had,” Agius recalled. “I came across Bon Charge and their technology was mind-blowing. We’re very aligned on our mission.”

Making the Impossible Possible

While Agius’ cross-country swims draw all the attention, understandably so, it’s his behind-the-scenes work that makes them sustainable. That’s where Bon Charge makes a significant impact as well. 

Every morning, when Agius goes through his daily schedule, he does so in front of a Bon Charge, which warms up his body and muscles and puts him in the right mindset before his next physical challenge. 

“It gets me in a deep state of calmness and relaxation before I go into a high intensity state of exerting myself for continuous hours,” he said. “It puts me in the right space.”

Post-workout, Agius uses Bon Charge’s red light products again to accelerate his recovery. Between mats, wraps, masks, blankets and domes, Bon Charge gives him the therapy needed to get him back in the water faster, feeling strong and ready to chase down his next milestone. 

“They speed up recovery to 10 or 20 times what it normally was before I started using red light,” he added. “I immediately felt like this was going to be something special when I first started using the products.” 

Opening New Recovery Doors

Agius found Bon Charge helpful in ways he hadn’t anticipated as well. The sharpened mental clarity he achieves via the products wasn’t something he sought when first trying them out, but he undoubtedly appreciates it today. 

“In the days when I kept using the red light therapy, it just kept opening up more and more doors which I never knew existed in terms of stillness, presence and focus,” he said. “It added value in spaces I didn’t even think would have been possible.”

While dental hygiene and swimming aren’t often seen as related, Agius’ lifestyle argues otherwise. When you’re face-first in salt water for hours at a time, mouth ulcers are an unfortunate side effect. However, with Bon Charge’s Red Light Toothbrush, which features sonic brushing and dual-wavelength light therapy, Agius now keeps his gums healthy and teeth shiny.  

“The red light toothbrush helped soothe and revitalize my gums a lot faster than in previous years or with previous swims,” he said. “That was something that was really cool.”

Easy to Integrate for Everyone

Despite a surge in interest around recovery, many still perceive its products as things beyond their reach, whether due to perceptions of luxury or practical limitations like time and space. However, as Agius put it, Bon Charge fits into your lifestyle, not you into theirs. 

“Their products are things that can be used each day,” Agius said. “You’d always brush your teeth every day — you’re just changing the toothbrush. If you’d always sit and meditate every day, you’d just add a wall or a mat. The crystals help you relax and heal your body.”

You don’t have to spend your whole day in a pool or the ocean to benefit from them, either.

“Bon Charge is deeply ingrained in my routine, even beyond the athletic side,” Agius added. “I use the brand’s products when I’m coming home from a long day of work, I have lots of workshops that I give and I’m also a swimming coach. Some days are intense, with lots of kids and lots of energy, so when I come home, my brain is still wired.”

By sitting in front of his red light panel mounted on the wall, even if just for 20 minutes, Agius gets the recovery he needs for his next adventure, whether it’s paddling and kicking through boundless waters or speaking with students and colleagues.  

“It just helps you close up the day, it helps you recover better, sleep better and have a stronger tomorrow,” he said.