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Perth oldie swims English Channel

From Carine in Perth’s north, Sue Oldham, at 64 years old, achieved a remarkable feat by completing her swim across the English Channel, starting from Dover to France on August 9. She initially set the record back in 2006 with a swim time of 16 hours and three minutes.
How fantastic is that, right? She’d put most of us to shame!
The Herald Sun reported her saying to ABC Radio, “When you start something, you have to finish it, don’t you? There’s no point in getting out when it gets a bit tough.”

“You just never know what to expect due to currents and tides that can take you anywhere,” she expressed.

Oldham mentioned that she battled for five to six hours to perfect her stroke while experiencing a sore throat, a blocked nose, and discomfort in her right shoulder.

“But I would never stop; I would never give up, ever,” she insisted.

Her trainer from Perth, Pauline Pratt, along with fellow endurance swimmer Selwyn Jellie, provided support from the boat, cheering her on.

To prepare for the swim, she was slathered in grease and vaseline, receiving food and water via a pole, as she couldn’t touch the boat or be touched by anyone until she finished the swim.

After completing the swim, Oldham thought she might “hang up her bathers and goggles and retire gracefully.” However, one glass of champagne later, she reconsidered and thought about giving the channel another attempt.

If half of all Australians possessed even 1/8 of Mrs. Oldham’s spirit… we can only dream.

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