Karen Kennedy, 59, completed the 30km quadruple crossing in just over 10 hours without a wetsuit.
Image: Supplied / Tameryn Pillay
Karen Kennedy, 59, has made history as the first and fastest woman to complete a quadruple Robben Island crossing in "skins" (without a wetsuit). Kennedy covered nearly 30 kilometres in the icy Atlantic waters between Blouberg and Robben Island in just over 10 hours, a feat currently pending official ratification by Guinness World Records.
A quadruple crossing requires a swimmer to transit the channel between Bloubergstrand and Robben Island four consecutive times.
The 'skins' category follows strict marathon swimming rules, prohibiting wetsuits and allowing only a standard swimsuit, cap, and goggles despite the cold Atlantic temperatures.
Karen Kennedy in the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Image: Supplied / Tameryn Pillay
Approaching her 60th birthday, Kennedy — a former provincial swimmer who returned to the sport in her 40s — aimed to inspire women over 50 to pursue long-held ambitions.
"Dreams do not have an expiration date," Kennedy said. "For a long time, many of us were conditioned to believe there are certain roles we should play... but those boundaries aren’t fixed."
Karen Kennedy halfway to Robben Island.
Image: Supplied / Tameryn Pillay
The swim involved four legs, with Kennedy exiting the water briefly at each end before re-entering. She faced unpredictable currents and marine life, supported by a crew that provided scheduled nutrition.
Interestingly, Kennedy used rooibos tea mixed with honey as her primary ‘fuel’ to maintain hydration and warmth without elevating her heart rate.
Karen Kennedy after she completed her quadruple Robben Island crossing.
Image: Supplied / Tameryn Pillay
Marthane Swart, secretariat of the South African Rooibos Council (SARC), which co-funded the support boat, praised the achievement: “Karen’s swim is an extraordinary demonstration of resilience, discipline, and determination.”
For Kennedy, the mental battle was the steepest.
“One crossing at a time,” she said, describing her strategy for the daunting distance. “One stroke at a time.”
Kennedy’s record is now awaiting final verification from the Guinness World Records team in London.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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