This month’s Swimmer Spotlight is one of our members, Simon.
It’s not often I get called up by an Englishman who’s never swum in the ocean, declaring that he wants to swim Robben Island in a few months’ time before he turns 60.
But with determination like his (and a few adjustments of expectations), we made it work!
Full name: Simon John Blundell
Date of birth: 19th March 1964
Place of birth: Isle of Wight, UK
Profession / purpose:
A qualified psychologist (1988–2005) and fine art & antiques appraiser (2005–present), I run
a boutique asset valuation practice serving museums, estates, and private collections. My
work sits at the intersection of history, value, and human story, measuring worth in both
monetary and cultural terms. Appointments often begin much like therapy sessions, with the
question, “So tell me about your collection,” followed by a gentle exploration of objects,
provenance, and occasionally family politics!
When I began open water swimming:
18 th January 2024, with Cape Town Open Water Swimming, an initiation into cold water,
wide horizons, and humble self-assessments of what I thought constituted bravery.
Swim attire preference:
I love the purity of swimming in skins, but practicality prevails, a wetsuit is kinder to my
skinny frame!
My most memorable swim:
Every swim leaves its mark, but the Robben Island crossing in June 2024 stands apart. Only a
year earlier, twenty laps in a 25-metre pool at Wynberg Military Base felt monumental. A
kilometre followed, then a mile, each distance once unimaginable. To find myself months later covering 7.5 km in open ocean felt less like achievement and more like grace. It turns
out limits are often just opinions waiting to be revised.
What I value most about the swim group:
The banter, the humour, and the camaraderie that grows from a wonderfully diverse group of
lives and professions, all dissolving once we enter the water. Titles disappear, egos shrink
(along with a few other things), and friendships form quickly, usually followed by a shared
and urgent interest in where the nearest hot coffee might be.
Swim motto:
Be courageous. The sea is magnificent and indifferent, a constant reminder of both our
smallness and our resilience. Every swimmer who steps into open water earns my respect. It
helps to know that laughter and good company are always waiting when we swim back to
shore.
Final thoughts:
I never regret a swim… well, occasionally: usually in the moment before
getting in, and sometimes mid-swim when I wonder, what on earth am I doing out here? But
as I’ve been reminded several times (thanks, Amy :) ), I’ve paid for the experience. And
thankfully, the friendships forged in cold water have a way of warming the rest of the day and
often far beyond it. The ocean may test us individually but it is friendship that ensures none
of us truly swim alone.
Thank you for being part of the team, Simon!
If you’d like to join him and others in our ocean adventures, we’d love to welcome you to the team.
