Champion Oceanswimmer To Swim Double Crossing in Fiji for Christchurch Earthquake Funds

By Dan Hutton on July 18, 2011 in Sport

Bondi surf lifesaver and champion ocean swimmer Louise Stevenson will swim a double crossing of 38km as part of the Fiji Swims in late August to raise much needed funds for the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake tragedy.

One of Australia’s best female ocean swimmers, Stevenson is a regular participant at long distance ocean swims and placed first in the grueling Rottnest Channel Swim in 2010 and 2011, as well as winning the Bondi to Watsons Bay Swim 2011.

Motivated by health, fitness and “doing something different each year”, Stevenson will swim from the idyllic Beachcomber Island to Port Denarau and back through the Mamanuca Islands. This distance is estimated to take over 11 hours in the water.

Winning the place of first female across the line in last year’s 19km Fiji Swim – Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa to Beachcomber Island (known as the most beautiful ocean swim in the world) – Stevenson was keen to come back to the tropical waters of Fiji, but this time “do something no one else has done yet”!

Supported on a nearby paddle board by her friend and fellow surf lifesaver, Becci Gardener, Stevenson will receive nutrition in the form of gels during the course of the swim.

Stevenson’s training in the lead up to this marathon swim includes 6 -7 pool sessions, 2 ocean swims and 3-4 runs per week. Prior to the swim, she will undertake a 3 and 6 hour pool session to ensure her nutrition is correct.

Originally from Christchurch, Stevenson has set up a fundraising page to raise much needed funds for the rebuilding of her hometown and urges all to visit this page and contribute.

Stevenson’s swim is the day before this year’s Fiji Swims 19km relay event, followed two days later by the 2.5km and 1km swims between the coral islands, which will include more than 150 swimmers from Australia, NZ and Fiji, and regularly features Olympic greats such as Shane Gould and Murray Rose.

Further information on the Fiji Swims is available at www.fijiswims.com.