RachaelSwims

I’ve found my niche, a hobby that pushes my physical and mental limit. 

 

I've always swum, mum put me into lessons and squad from a young age and I stuck with it until about 17. 

I did alright, I was best at the IM- that was my favourite event. 

 

After 17, it was about 5 years until I started swimming again. I would go with my mum and sisters to ABC on a Saturday morning and swim 1km, followed by breakfast. 

 

I started swimming at Icebergs, that’s when things got more serious. I swam 3km 3 or 4 times per week, but more importantly I met open water enthusiasts and joined Tamarama Surf Club. 

I used to watch people swimming across the bay in Bondi and want to do it too, but was definitely too scared. 

 

I was working at the Manly markets on the weekend, I can't remember what possessed me at the time but I decided to swim to Shelly Beach. One thing you need to know about me is once I have an idea in my head there is almost nothing that is going to stop me from doing it.

 

Swimming to Shelly is about 1.2km return, and seeing as I had taken my cosi along with me nothing was going to prevent me from doing it. 

 

I got in at about 5pm and it was very overcast, visibility in the water was poor, I was by myself and scared out of my mind. So scared I couldn't put my face in the water for half of the swim. There was something about seeing the rocks and seaweed underneath me that was terrifying. I practically walked on water. When I got to Shelly the last thing I wanted to do was turn around and swim back, but I did it and almost gave myself a heart attack.

 

I then graduated to the mighty Bondi bay. I recruited the help of a local open water coach and I did my first lap. What struck me the most and what really cemented my love for the open ocean was how quickly 800m passed compared to doing 16 laps of the pool.

 

My fate was sealed.

 

I went to Fiji for a swim and met Vlad, Tori, Justin, Nico et al.

 

Back in Bondi, I made frineds with some Italian boys and we would do adventure swims together, laps of Bondi or Bondi to Tama or Tama to Bronte.

 

I joined BondiFit and came under the guidance of Spot. Spot taught me how to swim in the open water. He gave me a love for the surf- the rougher the better!

 

I signed up for Rottnest Island Swim 19.7km from Cottesloe beach in WA to Rottnest Island. I also joined Vladswim. 

 

When one joins a squad like Vladswim you quickly become very susceptible to an airborne virus know as "Marathon Swimming" 

 

6 months earlier I would have scoffed at the idea of swimming the Channel. Too cold and dirty!

There I was, after my first Rottnest swim I decided to do it.