The pressure is on for Summerveld’s Sam Kruger. She’s attempting to be the first South African woman to complete The Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.
Year-round, hundreds of swimmers across the world attempt the sought-after achievement that involves three historically important swims … crossing the English Channel, a circumnavigational swim around Manhattan Island, and crossing the Catalina Channel. Less than 270 have ever managed to do it. Usually swum in groups of four – relay or individual – in seven-day periods called tides, Sam is attempting a solo crossing which means it is just her, the ocean and her support boat.
For most of us it might seem like right stroke, left stroke for hours on end. But, for Sam, a 44-year-old mother of two and remedial education teacher, it’s far more than putting on a swimsuit, stretching a swimming cap over her head, snapping on her goggles and submerging into frigid open waters for the Swimming Hall of Fame. It’s about rising and standing by the tattoo on her arm that reads ‘She believed she could, so she did’, and setting that example to her children Sarah-Jessica and Ethan.
“This is just the start of a much bigger journey. But it all comes down to my love for swimming. I remember as a kid, if ever I was punished for whatever reason, and it meant I had to miss a training session, there was no greater penalty for me.”
Sam started water safety lessons at the age of four. By six, she was a competitive breaststroke swimmer and by university she’d made several national teams.
“Then I hung up my goggles to pursue a life-long dream of horse riding. My favourite discipline was endurance riding. I am naturally drawn to the impossible, and love the dedication, science and technology that goes into any type of marathon sport. And I love the challenge of training for an impossible amount of hours.”
In 2014, Sam was inspired to swim again after watching her husband, Denver, compete in a Midmar Mile.
“Having never ever swum in a dam, or even an ocean – I was always a pool swimmer – the greatest challenge for me was overcoming the fear of the unknown, and swimming in big, dark, deep bodies of water. But, from then on my swimming obsession took over.”
Now she has medals for Midmar Miles, Victor Ludorums at national swimming events and podium finishes at World FINA Masters Champs.
“The last 16 Miler that I did at Midmar in 2019, was a highlight in my swimming career. Conditions were tough but my family were all there and my best friend was my support. I remember her climbing into the water with me at one stage, fully clothed, to pass me food and hydration. She died tragically in a car accident not long after, so those two days are a sacred memory for me, and a reminder never to give up.”
Last year, just after the KZN floods, Sam jumped at the challenge of a friendly wager to swim from Umhlanga to Durban – an open water highlight – in awful conditions with filthy water and shark warnings. Proof she’s a lover of extremes.
Next month, supported by her coach Donovan Von Gelder, her family, and her boat pilot, Derrick Frazer, Sam will take on the first stretch of The Triple Crown – swimming the English Channel. She entered the event in 2019, but with so many swimmers hunting the accomplishment, there is a long waiting list. This says Sam, has given her time to prepare and tick all the major qualifying boxes.
She says the mental build up and pressure surrounding a swim of this nature is huge. Dependent on the speed of a swimmer and the channel conditions on the day, it can take between seven and 27 hours or more to swim the 34km English Channel – said to be the hardest of the Triple Crown thanks to its currents. Sam’s tide is between August 8 and 13, so whenever conditions are most favourable she will be churning up the channel.
“Years go into planning and preparing. Being competitive. I’m training to swim a fast time – between 11 and 12 hours – which will put me in the top five South African female swimmers, but it all depends on the conditions.”
The only advantage Sam says she has over other long distance swimmers is consistence.
“This will definitely be a benchmark as to whether or not The Tripple Crown and Oceans Seven – my next bucket list challenge – will be achievable. I don’t do failing well! It is also hugely expensive, so not something I would like to have to redo.”
At this stage, The Triple Crown is a personal goal for Sam, but she’d love to incorporate it with a worthy cause. The Coastal Horse Care Unit in Cato Ridge is one very close to her heart.
“The swim should start at about 2am. For the first hour, I will swim continuously. Thereafter, I will stop every 30 minutes or so, for between 10 and 30 seconds, for a carb drink, with some warm Rooibos tea and honey to soothe my throat, as the salt water burns it raw.”
When it comes to using the loo, this can be tricky Sam says.
“When the water is warm, it’s easier to let it flow, but in cold water it can be hard to relax enough. This is dangerous, as toxins can build up in your body, so it is something that one needs to practise. I’ve never needed a Number Two, but I’ve heard that the body just seems to know this isn’t really an option on a marathon swim.”
Once she reaches her destination in France, Sam must swim back to her pilot, who anchors about 2km offshore. Then it’s a three-hour journey on the small boat, back to England.
“I’ve been warned that this is the worst part. You are cold, hungry and tired, and you cannot lie down. You have to sit up straight the entire journey because of the amount of water your body naturally absorbs after being in salty water for that amount of time, which can lead to secondary drowning.”
This will be the least of Sam’s worries while she is in the water though, and it is certainly not for the faint of heart. She says she knows she will have to dig deep to keep things in perspective.
“My coach once said, if you are focusing on sharks, you are not focusing on winning, so I really do try to push the tough stuff to the back of my mind. I’ve also found that doing research into sharks and jelly fish has helped me to understand that although a rational fear, the chance of a life threatening encounter in the ocean is very rare. Through it all, my family and my support crew will be vital. Something as simple as eye contact with someone I trust on that boat will make all the difference.”
When she’s not attached by the waist to a bungie cord that’s wrapped around a tree close to her pool, and swimming on the spot with resistance (and at times in temperatures lower than 10 degrees), Sam’s side hustle is baking. She also loves gardening, true crime podcasts, spending some quiet time grooming her horses at night, and spending time with her dogs.
Come August, all Sam Kruger fans will be glued to her Facebook page waiting for updates on her open water journey, while she’ll undoubtedly be focussed on her next feat, the Oceans Seven, which to date, only a dozen people in the world have ever completed.
“I’m often asked if I get bored. Never! I guess I feel very privileged to be able to do so much of what I love on a daily basis. The open water is truly my happy place, and my peace. It’s where I belong, and where I am free.”
Details: If you would like to support Sam with any form of sponsorship, you can get hold of her on 076 279 3224 or [email protected]
