Swimmer Ryan Stramrood broke the record for most open water crossings from mainland South Africa and Robben Island.
On June 17, Stramrood crossed for the 109th time, Zwemza reported.
Robben Island once was home to the prison that held future South Africa president Nelson Mandela for 18 of the 27 years he was imprisoned. The island is nearly five miles from the mainland and six miles from Cape Town.
Stramrood broke the record set by his late friend Theodore Yach. Yach died in 2018.
“I dedicate this crossing to my friend the late Theodore Yach who set the bar so high and who would surely still be doing so if he were alive today,” Stramrood told Zwemsa.
Stramrod started on Robben Island and swam to Blouberg on the mainland. The swim took him two hours and 34 minutes in water that was nearly 14 degrees Celsius.
The 46-year-old had to wait until COVID-19 restrictions were lifted to attempt the record-breaking swim.
“When I arrived at the beach standing on the shore in my Speedo with the air temperature at 10C, looking over the bay’s 7,3kms of icy water, I knew it was going to be a tough one. Usually we train and condition our bodies hard for these attempts, but lockdown has not allowed it,” Stramrood told Zwemza. “I relied purely on muscle memory and determination to reach the beach yesterday and believe me it hurt.”
Ryan Stramrood has crossed the English Channel as well as a mile swim in Antarctica and attempted a swim from Russia to Alaska, but was not able to finish.
But he finished the Robben Island record-breaking swim, one of the most impressive feats in open water swimming.
Gold medal for not beign eaten by a Great White!