Pugh said Thaning represented a new frontier in cold water swimming. “I joked with him after the swim that I was going to beat his record one day, and Otto turns to me and says, ‘OK Lewis, see you in 2049.’ That really puts it into perspective.”
Cape Long Distance Swimming Association chairperson Kerry Kopke said Thaning was an inspiration to open water swimmers everywhere.
“Many people think they can’t swim a Robben Island crossing, but Otto has shown us it is possible, even at the age of 80. He is an incredibly accomplished swimmer, but this swim also means we can all rethink our limitations,” she said.
Thaning said when he swam the English Channel he wanted to demonstrate that age was not necessarily a barrier to physical endeavour.
“I said that long ago and I still firmly believe it. I trained a lot with the late, great Theodore Yach, who did 108 Robben Island crossings, and his attitude was that you have to get into the cold and let it lubricate your joints. But you also have to enjoy it afterwards.”
Thaning said there is no such thing as an easy Robben Island swim and he planned many more crossings.
International marathon swimmer and coach Steve Munatones said Thaning had inspired many swimmers.
“Dr Thaning is the epitome of his profound guidance and a widely respected role model for the entire swimming community.”
TimesLIVE
Surgeon, 80, swims into record books with Robben Island crossing
Image: Lewis Pugh
Cape Town heart surgeon Otto Thaning has, at 80, become the oldest person to swim the 7.5km from Robben Island to the mainland.
Thaning braved 16ºC water for a swift 2hr 52min crossing, his 13th. He was paced by Robben Island veteran Martin Goodman, skippered by Roger Finch — the first South African to hold the “triple crown” of open water swimming — and supported by environmental activist and cold water swimmer Lewis Pugh.
Pugh and Thaning were the first people recorded to swim across Lake Malawi in 1992, and the surgeon is also the oldest man to swim the 34km English Channel, which he did in 2014 aged 73.
Pugh said Thaning was an incredibly efficient swimmer. “What makes his crossing even more astonishing is that he operates during the week,” he said.
“Sometimes he comes to training and says, ‘Long day, Lewis. I had to stand on my feet operating for six hours.’”
It's 'no' to annual Valentine's Day weddings on Robben Island
Pugh said Thaning represented a new frontier in cold water swimming. “I joked with him after the swim that I was going to beat his record one day, and Otto turns to me and says, ‘OK Lewis, see you in 2049.’ That really puts it into perspective.”
Cape Long Distance Swimming Association chairperson Kerry Kopke said Thaning was an inspiration to open water swimmers everywhere.
“Many people think they can’t swim a Robben Island crossing, but Otto has shown us it is possible, even at the age of 80. He is an incredibly accomplished swimmer, but this swim also means we can all rethink our limitations,” she said.
Thaning said when he swam the English Channel he wanted to demonstrate that age was not necessarily a barrier to physical endeavour.
“I said that long ago and I still firmly believe it. I trained a lot with the late, great Theodore Yach, who did 108 Robben Island crossings, and his attitude was that you have to get into the cold and let it lubricate your joints. But you also have to enjoy it afterwards.”
Thaning said there is no such thing as an easy Robben Island swim and he planned many more crossings.
International marathon swimmer and coach Steve Munatones said Thaning had inspired many swimmers.
“Dr Thaning is the epitome of his profound guidance and a widely respected role model for the entire swimming community.”
TimesLIVE
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