After almost one year since her first try doing something no swimmer had ever done before, Kim Prytz has set not one, but two Robben Island records!
Cape Town, South Africa (09 January 2024) — Cape Town adventure swimmer Kim Prytz (49) bravely took the water path less-travelled. It was a plunge no swimmer had ever attempted before, not least in the swimming style Kim chose.
One year after her first attempt tackling the Robben Island Return Crossing, Kim has successfully become the first person ever to swim Lagoon Beach-Robben Island-Big Bay—a new record! Not only did she successfully show others that it could be done, she also did it swimming breast stroke—another record for Kim!
The swim, dubbed ‘Reconciliation Swim’ by the swimmer herself saw Kim venture some 19.8kms in 14 hours, 13 minutes and 3 seconds in waters as chilled as 12.8 degrees. Kim also did the entire swim without a wetsuit (yes, we’re shaking too!).
Of her remarkable first, she eloquently shared:
“In the darkness before the dawn and with the boat crew acting as ‘midwives’ I entered the inky depths of the icy ocean and began the long journey to rebirth, following the light that was showing me the way.”
On explaining why she chose to name the swim as such, Kim adds: “I was immersed in the ocean and experienced what flow felt like as I followed the light beam of my boat crew. I just let my thoughts go – a lesson we can all take away with us, to let attachments to people, thoughts and things completely drop off in the flow. There was greater surrender in my spirit for this swim than I can ever remember. A deep acceptance of whether nature would allow me into her midst or not and I believe this total surrender is what finally allowed me to be one with the ocean and succeed. Sometimes we have to let go to have it all.” — Kim Prytrz.
Adding further depth to her dive, Reconciliation Swim was not just a testament to Kim’s ability to push her limits but also acted as a line of support for the Goedgecht Trust, which you can find out more about here.
“We are delighted that Kim chose Goedgedacht as her charity of choice,” shared Valerie Govender of the Trust. “Our Path onto Prosperity centres are not just beacons of hope in the rural communities of the Swartland, but catalysts for a brighter future too.
The result of not giving up, Reconciliation Swim saw three attempts from the adventure swimmer before it was a success. Remarking on the difficulty and moments of relief, Kim said:
“I’ve never loved kelp so much entering Robben island’s shores and getting to the designated 10 minutes rest you’re allowed after 9 hours of swimming.”
The strong swimmer then remarked on on how the last stretch on the homeward trip took all her strength, as everything had taken a toll from the tiredness to nausea.
“The most onerous part of the swim was from 2 kms to the final – there was an interminable period where I couldn’t believe I was moving. The final push, just like giving birth, was excruciating due to the currents and just to having swum for more than 14 hours,” she explained.
This isn’t Kim’s first time doing something that’ll go down in global history books, either. Last year, she was also the first person to swim across the Sound of Iona in Scotland where the water’s temperature sat cooly at just 10 degrees.
When she’s not taking a deep dive into new experiences and inspiring us all, Kim is a music teacher, an avid karate practitioner and karate instructor.
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