APOLIMA 2020 LINEUP

SIMON FREEMAN
Age, 49
Resident, Auckland
Occupation, Company Director 
Simon is the first Cab off the rank. Simon's story has many layers. His mother is Samoan (Brunt/Meredith) and he wears the full Pe'a (Tatau et. Tattoo). He will be the third Samoan to swim Apolima in the modern era. His uncle Peter Meredith guided the Apolima Swim back in 1988. Apolima Strait is the stepping stone to higher goals. Simon has his heart set on taking on the Oceans 7 Swim Challenge.  This season he is testing the waters in a team relay across the English Channel.  

Simon is the Sponsor for the Seal Team AWID (Athletes with Intellectual disabilities) Unifying Sports that is participating in the Samoa Swim Series in August 2019. He is traveling to Samoa to assist with the team's performance in the water. 

SARAH O'DWYER

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

SHARYN BRUCE

​Age: 46
Rotorua
Ultra Swims:  Auckland Marathon swim in 2018 (12.5k wetsuit) and Chopper Challenge in 2019 (20k non wetsuit)
Why: 2018 was the first time I tried a 10km swim, and I feel like I found my thing.  I'm not fast and long distance is more about stamina than speed.  And I don't really like swimming in crowds.  Its a form of meditation to me, just concentrating on my breath and getting into a good rhythm.  I absolutely loved the Chopper Challenge and when I finished it, I started looking for my next challenge.  I've never been to Samoa and it was on my list of places to see, so this combines my love of swimming with a family holiday too.  So excited, I can't wait!



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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.

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