[SinglePic not found]
http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2011/11/swimming-from-cuba-to-florida-is-quest.html
Having read Steven Munatones story (above) regarding my upcoming swim of the Florida Straits I feel I would like to add a little information from my perspective.
Contrary to this report which says I’ve recently returned to marathon swimming after raising my three children, most who have followed my career would know that I’m an accomplished marathon swimmer and have been swimming marathons for the past 18 years.
I took part in my first marathon swim in January 1993 just 15 months after my third child was born. Two months later I competed in the Australian 25k championships and was selected to represent Australia in a 25k kilometre international competition later that year. I swam the Australian titles again in 1994 and came third behind Shelley Taylor Smith and was Australia’s reserve for the World Championships later that year where the Australian women placed 1st and 3rd.
At this point in time with a three year old, a six year old, and a nine year old I found it difficult to compete at such a high level and eased things back with my swimming for a few years. In 2000 I was back and swam the Rottenest Channel for the first of my nine crossings, which I’ve won on two occasions. As my children grew up and left home it’s allowed me to further peruse my love and passion for open water swims.
However in my time away from competitive marathon swimming I didn’t turned my back on the sport I love. I watched from a distance when fellow Australian Suzie Maroney swam from Cuba to Florida in a shark cage in 1997. I’d competed against Suzie in the early 1990’s therefore I followed her Cuba – Key West swim with a great deal of interest. I was busy raising my three children then, now they’re ages 25, 22 and 20, I also have a three year old grandson. Needless to say I also followed Diana Nyads journey with interest and naturally understood when she blogged on several occasions before and after her attempts this year that she would not be trying again. But this also got me thinking, in view of my recent successful world record for the longest unassisted ocean swim in the Cayman Islands, along with the many marathon swims I’ve completed regularly over the past 18 years the Cuba – Florida swim is a very attractive challenge to me. I think I’m capable of completing the swim.
[SinglePic not found]
Recently I was invited to attend a charity dinner by Marcel McLeod from Townsville’s Daybreak Rotary Club as their guest speaker which I was happy to assist with. It was during this time that I mentioned to Marcel that I’d like to do the Cuba– Florida swim and he told me about Rotaries Global Cause to “End Polio Now’ and to rid the world of polio.
This sounded wonderful to me, to be able to swim and help people, especially children at the same time and join the global push to eradicate polio. Since then we learned about the Swimathlon which started in Grantham in England 22 years ago, which is the country that I was born in and I have become the global ambassador for this event which is now gaining a great deal of support and momentum from swimmers worldwide. My swim from Cuba to Florida will also benefit this great cause. However it’s expensive to organise and hold such a swim and I’m in search of sponsors. Before and during my swim we’ll be raising money via donations for Rotaries ‘End Polio Now’ campaign.
The official announcement of my intentions to attempt the Florida Straits, to swim from Cuba – Florida was timed for Wold Polio Day on October 24th, although it was published two days early on the Daily News of Open Water Swimming on October 22nd. I was surprised when a contact forwarded me the link to Diana’s blog just one day after my official announcement saying that she had decided to make another attempt next year.
Already, I’ve put a lot of work into this project and I am committed to the swim and to Rotaries great cause to rid the world of Polio.
Steven rightly points out there will be many challenges ahead of us, both in and out of the water.
I hope this fills you in a little about me and how this all came about; I thank you for your interest and support.
As always I wish all my fellow swimmers the very best for their upcoming challenges in the year ahead.
Here are a few links you may be interested in viewing;
Penny Palfrey Project; http://www.pennypalfreyproject.org/
Promotional video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s387zfH2VIQ
The Global Swimarathon. http://www.rotaryglobalswimarathon.org /
Related links;
http://www.palfreymarathonswims.com/about-us/
http://loneswimmer.com/2011/11/03/the-penny-palfrey-project/
http://www.swimmersdaily.com/2011/11/03/penny-palfrey-takes-on-the-cuba-to-florida-challenge/
I have also created a Penny Palfrey Athlete page on facebook for my supporters to follow my progress.
[SinglePic not found]
