I’m not often speechless, ask anyone 🙂
But today, words almost fail me. I’ve just spent most of the last 28 hours watching a little tracker link, from the comfort of my couch. More than 80km of swimming, including through an entire night, and in what looked like some pretty good conditions.
28 hours in which Caitlin O’Reilly came back to the 40.2 challenge in beautiful Lake Taupo, and smashed out a double crossing. In doing so, she became only the third person to successfully complete the double Taupo. The only double crossing of the 21st century! She beat Sandra Blewett’s 1986 female record by more than 5 hours. And she was only 5 hours slower than our legendary marathon swimmer and now guide Phil Rush (1985).
There are so many things that impress me about this swim, and about Caitlin, the teenager with a steely determination that belies her youth. Top of the list – a consistent 3km per hour, every hour, even with food stops. It may have been my enthusiasm, yelling at my phone a bit during the last hour, but I’m sure you sped up again for the finish, which is remarkable.
Congratulations on this massive achievement Caitlin, and congratulations to your crew (Phil Rush, Mike Cochrane, Hana Wolzak…..sorry not sure who else was on the boat today)

and oh how I wish the Taupo yacht club knew how much I wanted their webcam to be clear today for the finish…. but well, no…. I can see a gaggle of people on the beach, and the IRB and the big boat, but only through the haze.

oh, and I’m only posting now, after the swim – as I didn’t want to jinx it by posting during this huge undertaking