Members of the Broulee Ocean Swimmers group in Fiji. Photos: Supplied.
Most mornings a very happy group of people meet in Broulee to swim laps together in Shark Bay.
They are not training for anything. What brings them together is a love of the ocean, wanting to keep fit and enjoying the company of like-minded people.
Earlier this month, nine of them swapped Broulee’s currently chilly waters for a swim trek in the crystal-clear waters of Fiji. Ranging in age from 57 to 87, they swam between one and three kilometres each day amid eye-catching fish and vibrant coral reefs.
Gillian Stapleton has been a member of the Broulee Ocean Swimmers for just over a year. She said it was a community swim, along the lines of a community run.
In the warmer months, upwards of 20 local swimmers, plus visitors, congregate at 8:30 am to swim in Shark Bay. Right now, only a few are pulling on wetsuits, caps, booties and gloves each day to brave the elements.
Ms Stapleton said the swimmers came from all walks of life and were generally aged from 35 years. Their oldest member, who is 87, swam every day in Fiji.
“Wendy is in the ocean most days and is just so engaged with life,” Ms Stapleton said. “She inspires me to do it.”
Nine members of the Broulee Ocean Swimmers went on a swim trek to Fiji.
An accomplished marathon runner, Ms Stapleton is relatively new to swimming. She took stroke correction classes and is now addicted to ocean swimming.
“We swam one or three kilometres a day in Fiji,” she said. “A year ago, I never thought I would be swimming those distances.”
Others in the group have lived in Broulee for years and are very seasoned swimmers.
The Broulee Ocean Swimmers generally swim one or two kilometres each day, but Ms Stapleton was not doing anything near that when she first joined. It is possible to do as little as 200 metres.
“They are such an inclusive group and people give you tips and hints,” she said. “You come back because you think to yourself you can do this.”
One of the members heard about the tour company that runs Ocean Swim Fiji. Nine of them used the swim trek to set goals and train for the week-long event.
“Swim treks are a big thing,” Ms Stapleton said. “You go there for a week, and you swim every day and get to swim in gorgeous places.”
There were about 55 swimmers at the Fiji event. Anyone can join, but Ms Stapleton said that the Fiji one sold out within an hour.
Members of the Broulee Ocean Swimmers group.
The Broulee Ocean Swimmers grew from a group of swimmers who meet at 9 am every Sunday at South Broulee in the summer for a 1.4-kilometre swim.
While not an officially sanctioned Surf Life Saving event, the swim is held within sight of the Broulee Surfers Surf Life Saving Club who have a patrol on duty most Sundays during summer.
Ms Stapleton said ocean swimming and swimming treks were growing in popularity because of the sense of belonging and wellbeing they promoted, and the good conversations that swimmers had. It was about far more than laps.
“It’s a tight-knit community that shows up for each other, cheers each other on, and makes growing older feel like something to look forward to rather than something to fight,” she said.
“That sense of belonging, by their own account, is a big part of what’s kept them so active well into their 70s and 80s. It is proof that connection and consistency go hand in hand with longevity.”
Original Article published by Marion Williams on About Regional.
