Cadiz Human Rights Day Swim Is Icing On The Cake
Over 100 swimmers, true to the hardy South African spirit wearing mostly Speedo briefs, braved 12°C water temperatures and large surf to raise R10 000 for abused women and children in the 2.2 km Cadiz Human Rights Day Swim in Cape Town on Wednesday.20-year-old world championship swimmer Danie Marais (shown running up the beach on left) and 34-year old Emma Elsop, 34, won the male and female division at Camps Bay.
Danie, with a time of 29:09, said, “The water was ice cold. The race was hard and fast. I was up against some quick swimmers who kept up a blistering pace.
The last few hundred meters I sprinted, slightly pulling away from Phillip Emslie. My hands started going numb at the end from the cold but overall, it was an awesome swim for a great cause.”
As part of the event, Cadiz contributed R10,000 (US$1,309 or €991) to Sisters Incorporated, a shelter for abused women and children in Cape Town. Event patron and veteran extreme swimmer Ram Barkai points out, “Unfortunately, domestic abuse is a real problem in our country.”
“It requires an increasing awareness and Human Rights day is the perfect day to raise this awareness.” Barkai said the turnout was phenomenal. “We had swimmers from all walks of life, including some development swimmers taking part and some top names in open water swimming. We pay tribute to these extreme swimmers for showing their support for human rights by entering this race and we salute Sisters Incorporated for the inspirational work they do.”
Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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