Meet the Committee: An Interview with Hazel McQueen

Hazel McQueen serves on the CLDSA Committee as the information officer. She is passionate about open water swimming and the swimming community. Preserving the history and significance of the original medals and the heritage of the open water swimming is important to her.

1. Tell us about your swimming journey so far.

My passion for swimming probably came from my parents who encouraged us to take up swimming at a young age. I have always swum. On moving to the Cape, I grew to love swimming in the ocean, though fearful of the underwater life (a Vaaly who spent many a holiday in Natal) and the cold in the beginning but overcome the fears.

2. Tell us about your earliest swimming memory.

Answer: I grew up on a farm in the Lowveld, and we had a swim teacher travel to the area once or twice a week to give all us kids lessons. Turns were taken at various farm pools, and we quickly learnt to swim. I swam throughout my school years and carried on into adulthood. Municipal pools being the option in those days.

3. What is it that makes you love swimming?

I just love being in water, love the feel of it, the freedom of movement, the buoyancy of it, blocks out the outside world, the high one gets after a particularly cold swim, the friendliness of the community.

4. What was your most challenging swim experience?

Probably my first Robben Island. In those days one could only swim it on Freedom Day. We had to qualify at one or two open water events before being allowed to sign up for the Freedom Swim. I had no idea what to expect, I was fit enough (Brain Button swim squad at The Point 3 days a week since 2005) and Sunday Hot Chocolate every Sunday from June 2009 till RI swim May 2010. We set off from the beach on RI, my swim partner and I, and we just swam, putting all our faith in our two skippers (not experienced) to get us to Blouberg beach safely. The water temp varied thought out, and with 1km to go the temp dropped to 9 degrees and we got stuck in a current. Instead of finishing at the Cadiz arch at Big Bay, we landed up a kilometre down the beach. Got whisked back to the finish area, into the warmup tent for an hour, and only then allowed out to be congratulated by family and friends.

5. Can you describe your perfect week of training?

Three pool sessions at the Sea Point Pavilion, with possibly two sea swims on the weekend.

6. What is a challenging aspect of swimming that you have overcome and how did you overcome it?

Cold water and sharks – this is when I wore a wetsuit. With the help of supportive and encouraging friends both were soon overcome.

7. Where is your favourite swim spot?

Clifton

8. What was your favourite swim experience ever?

Maybe an adventure swim from Millers Point towards Smitzwinkel

9. Do you have a bucket list swim?

Dare I say the English Channel! OR a swim trek adventure

10. Do you have a tip for an aspiring Open Water Swimmer?

Leave your swim cap on until you are fully dressed. Buddy up.