APOLIMA 2021 LINEUP

After her Moreton Island 100km heroics, Jess is in prime form to challenge for the Apolima Strait record. She is also aiming to be the first person to do the Apolima Double X by swimming both ways. Welcome to the Swim Jess. 

PALEPUA AFOA, 14 yrs
​Auckland / Samoa

Late Entry to the Swim - Palepua's inspiration to enter the swim came from his nana. She saw Palepua compete for the first time in December last year and in January she passed away from Cancer. This swim is for his nana. Palepua is fundraising to raise a donation for the Samoa Cancer Society in his nana's honour. He is also aiming to be the youngest person to swim Apolima Strait at 12yrs of age. 

Palepua is now attending school in Auckland and he swims for the Roskill Club. 

TRACEY MESSINGER 
​Whangarei, NZL

Tracey is on a mission this year, to swim as many ultra swims as she can possibly fit in - to date, she has swum 3 ultra swims in 2019. In March Tracey swam the Chopper Swim in Auckland, and in October she swam two ultra swims in the space of 10 days in Tahiti, the Tahiti - Mo'orea 21.2km swim, and the Circum-Swim of Bora Bora, 23km. She now wants to add Apolima Strait to this list. Welcome to the swim Tracey. 

SAM MUIR-JAMES
North Waikato, NZL

Age: 34 years
Sam has been open water swimming for 8 years. 
He showed interest in it after joining Manukau Masters Club. 
He's always had a love of water since a young fellow, starting off kayaking as a 10-year-old, competing in NZ Junior Kayak Champs at 19 years old, winning a Silver in river racing & placed well in NZ Kayak sprint champs a few years later.
So open water (ultra distance) is another extension of what he loves doing.
Sam has always had an interest in how long it takes to run, cycle, kayak or swim something ...just part of his autism, but he has never let that define him.
Sam's personal achievements to date: 
Lake Taupo 40.2km, 2017
Cook Strait Swim, 2019
Various 10km Swims Hobbies & Interests
Basketball (Special Olympics)
Entertainer (magic, comedy clown)
Welcome to Apolima Strait swim 2020 Sam.

SARAH O'DWYER 
Auckland 

Age: 54 ( at time of swim)
Why: Very personal challenge and 1 on Sarah's bucket list swims.
How many ultra-swims so far: 
Completed 20km Westpac Chopper Challenge 2019, skins. Absolutely fantastic swim.
Goal for Apolima: Simply to finish and to laugh my way across the Strait!
Inspiration - Sarah's inspiration comes from the athletes she coaches all who have Intellectual Disabilities. Sarah is taking her trained Seal Team to compete in SSS 2019 this August.
Challenges: Sarah suffers nerve damage and chronic disabilities in her right shoulder (she was given a 50% chance of using her shoulder after an accident). She has proven that mind over matter works very well
#apolimastraitswim #apolimastrait2020

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Apolima Strait Roll of Honour

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See who swam the Strait in the inaugural Race in 2016. 
First part of the video is the test swim in 2015 followed by the Class of 2016 -
the inaugural Class. Also check out the Legends of the Swim and who has Swum the Strait.