Swimmer’s story

Karen Mouton swam her first Robben Island this week. Veteran Howard Warrington swam with Karen on his 96th island crossing. This is Karen’s story:

“I swam competitively as a child, but stopped swimming after my first year at Varsity. My sister, Anneke Boshoff, is an experienced open-water swimmer and she has been asking me to take up swimming again. So I did! My very first swim was in October 2021, the 3km Harbour to Harbour in Gordon’s Bay. Since then, I have had the Robben Island crossing in the back of my mind, but could just never summon the strength to do it.

Anneke sent me to Howard Warrington’s Robben Island workshop where I learned a lot of interesting facts and information and met like-minded people, most terrified of the unknown. Having someone like Howard to ease your thoughts and prepare you mentally is vital. So today, 20 April 2022, we swam my first RI crossing and his 96th.

I was very nervous, but once I started swimming everything fell into place and to quit was never an option, despite swimming skins in 11.5degree water! I had decided to do the island swim in the same way that most of my swim friends have done it and it just sounded so incredible. Now I can attest to that. WOW. Amazing. Unbelievable.