WA:Perth grandmother swims English Channel

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2010
WA:Perth grandmother swims English Channel

By Lloyd Jones

PERTH, Aug 10 AAP - A Perth grandmother who has become the oldest woman to swim the
English Channel says thinking of the special people in her life kept her going during
the crossing.

Sue Oldham completed the swim from Dover to the French coast on Monday morning (Australian
time) in 17 hours and 31 minutes.

The 64-year-old, from Carine in Perth's north, first claimed the record in 2006 in
a swim of 16 hours and three minutes.

"While a huge personal achievement, I did it for all who inspire me, like my son Michael
and my five fabulous grandchildren," she said in a statement after her swim.

"In fact every hour of the swim I thought about someone special in my life, and that
would motivate me to continue - that's what took me to the end."

Speaking from the United Kingdom on Tuesday morning (Australian time) Mrs Oldham told
ABC Radio in Perth she loved swimming in the ocean.

"When you start something you have to finish it don't you, no point in getting out
when it gets a bit tough."

The English Channel was regarded as the most difficult open water swim in the world,
Mrs Oldham said.

"You just don't know what you're going to get because you've got currents and tides
that could take you anywhere."

The endurance swimmer said she struggled for five to six hours to get her stroke right
and her throat began causing her discomfort along with a blocked nose and a sore right
shoulder.

"But I would never stop, I would never give up, ever."

Mrs Oldham's Perth trainer Pauline Pratt and fellow Perth endurance swimmer Selwyn
Jellie were on the support boat encouraging her.

She was covered in grease and vaseline for the swim and was passed food and energy
drinks on the end of a pole because once in the water she could not touch the boat or
be touched by anyone until the finish.

Mrs Oldham said that after the swim she thought she would "hang up my bathers and goggles
and retire gracefully".

But she said that after a glass of champagne to celebrate she thought she might still
give the channel another go.

The record breaker said she probably swam 50km on her 2006 swim but the distance had
yet to be worked out for her latest crossing.

A month before her 2006 solo swim, Mrs Oldham swam as the only female member of a relay
team that still holds the world record for the oldest relay team to make the channel crossing.

For her latest crossing, she trained at Churchlands Senior High School swimming pool
in Perth, swimming morning and evening for about five hours to fit around her part-time
job.

AAP ldj/mm

KEYWORD: CHANNEL WRAP (WITH PIC)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.