Flanders, Belgium – As an ambassador for the Week of Water 2026, Matthieu Bonne has already completed another new challenge. During a four-day journey, he crossed Flanders over a route of more than 300 kilometers. He traveled from the rivers of Limburg to the North Sea to highlight the importance of Flemish waterways. For four days, he kept moving in, on, and along the water under challenging conditions.
📸 Images: Matthieu Bonne, Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij
What is the Week of Water
Ultra-athlete Bonne supported the awareness campaign, organized annually by the Flemish Environment Agency, where water naturally takes center stage in all its forms. The initiative highlighted water as a connecting factor in Flemish society, something that has been part of Bonne’s DNA from a young age. During this week, hundreds of activities were organized across Flanders, ranging from water safaris to Matthieu Bonne’s performance.
Day 1 + 2
113km
45km
Day 3 + 4
100km
79km
Total
337km
20:30:07
DAILY SCHEDULE
To kick off the campaign, Bonne embarked on a four-day challenge. On Monday, March 16, the world record holder entered the water together with Flemish Minister for the Environment Jo Brouns. Wearing a Bioracer suit, he started by swimming in water of just 8°C at the Grote Plas in Dilsen-Stokkem. After the cold swim, he cycled along the Zuid-Willemsvaart and the Albert Canal to the Abbey of Herkenrode, where he swapped his bike for a kayak. He eventually finished the first day paddleboarding on Schulensmeer, covering 113 kilometers on day one.
On day two, Bonne continued his journey along the Demer and Dijle towards Mechelen. Paddleboarding through the city felt like a highlight for him, followed by a kayak trip along the waterways. After passing the halfway point, Bonne completed his route on day three along the Upper Scheldt, starting from the watersports area in Willebroek towards Ghent.
After four days, seven waterways, and four lakes, our Bioracer ambassador reached his final destination. The North Sea, together with his hometown Ostend, formed the perfect endpoint, where he completed his journey with a final run from the North Sea beach to the Spuikom, finishing where it all began.
Athlete ID
Matthieu Bonne
Name: Matthieu Bonne
Date of Birth: February 17, 1994
Place of Birth: Ostend, Belgium
Nationality: Belgian
Professional: Ultra-athlete
SUPPORT FROM BIORACER
As a Bioracer ambassador, Matthieu embodies our mission to make athletes faster through innovative speedwear. He relies on the quality of his gear, as our apparel is extensively tested for speed and comfort, even when an athlete like Bonne combines five sports disciplines over more than 20 hours. For a challenge where multiple sports follow each other in rapid succession, the right clothing is crucial to maintain body temperature and minimize friction.
At Bioracer, we congratulate Matthieu on his remarkable achievement and hope his journey has inspired many people across Flanders.