This month’s Swimmer Spotlight is on one of our longstanding members, Se7en.
It is inspiring to witness her incredible determination, stamina and her joy as she’s grown from strength to strength over the years.
Name: Se7en
Date of Birth: 21 September 1967
Birthplace: Cape Town, South Africa
Profession:
I am firstly a mom, but also a trained ocean conservation scientist. I work as a private tutor to high school kids, and I am employed in social media.
Started open water swimming:
2019.
I swam a bit at school and did triathlon at varsity, and then I took a break to have kids. I literally sat on a couch and read stories to my kids for 20 years. What was I thinking? Anyway, I went on a fitness journey and was recovering from the Two Oceans half marathon in 2019, when a friend said, “Why don’t you join us for a swim at Silvermine Dam.” It was with Cape Town Swim group, it was freezing cold and the middle of winter… and I knew I had found my sport, and my crew. I haven’t stopped swimming since.
Swim attire preference:
Skins, always skins. The less gear I have to think about and organise the better.
My most memorable swim:
So many joyful swims to think of, but probably my most memorable one was our False Bay Relay… I got to do all the wild things in one swim: Swim in the night, enjoy bioluminescence, glide past dolphins, see loads of wildlife, cruise over the swell and battle when conditions changed and made things harder at the end. The best part was spending a day out swimming, with friends, eating all the snacks and pushing through to the finish. Literally the best day ever!!!
What I like most about the swim group:
It has been my absolute privilege to swim on this team… I love the genuine support and camaraderie of the swimmers, not to mention how inclusive the group is, from beginner to advanced, there is support for every kind of swimmer. There is always someone to help, advise and encourage fellow swimmers, from anti-chafe to the post-swim cold drop, if you have questions, then someone on this group will have the answer!!!
Swim motto:
Put it in a box.
You will often hear me say that at the start of a swim. While I believe I can do any swim I set my mind to doing, there are always a lot of doubts at the start of any swim. What if it is too cold, what if conditions get bad, what if I can’t keep up with the group… ALL the thoughts. I like to put them in a box and keep swimming. Over time the box gets smaller and smaller, until all you are thinking about is your swimming.
Thank you for the energy you bring to the team, Se7en!
If you’d like to join her and others in our ocean adventures, we’d love to welcome you to the team.
