Rottnest Channel Swim

Earlier this year, a team 4 of Georgians participated in the annual Rottnest Channel Swim. Nico Le Page, Tom Lynch, Ben Woodruff, and Boyd Kelly all met during their time at College, and decided to take on this enormous challenge as a team. Their fellow Georgian, Dom Jason, was one of the paddlers for the team.

The open water swim spans 19.7km from Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island, and is a challenging event, even in the best conditions. However, this year, the swimmers were met with some of the worst weather conditions that the swim has ever seen, due to a cyclone occurring in Northern WA.

Georgians Dom Jason, Nico Le Page, Tom Lynch, Boyd Kelly, and Ben Woodruff (L-R) after attempting the Rottnest Channel Swim.

Boyd reflected that the swim was “quite the challenge, especially in those conditions.” However, the team didn’t give up, persevering until the swim was eventually called off due to the weather. While it was disappointing to not be able to finish the challenge, Dom pointed out that “it’s not about how many times you get knocked down, but about how many you get back up.”

The Georgian spirit really shone through with their determination, reflecting how strong the bonds are between College friends, even in challenging times. Nico explained that he was “glad he got to meet such good friends at college that he could do [the swim] with.” The team is already hoping to give the swim another try next year, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve!

Featured Image: South 32 Rottnest Channel Swim Facebook