APOLIMA 2020 LINEUP

Dale Matuschka 

Over the past few years I’ve found a renewed interest in open water swimming, helped largely by joining the Gold Coast Open Water Swimming Club and becoming involved in the local ocean swimming community.
​
In the last year I’ve ticked off a number of 5 and 10km events, next year is 20km year with 3 events on the horizon and beyond that my goal is to swim Lake Taupo 40.2 in 2021.

I’ve never been to Samoa and this year’s solo interviews were very inspiring. I’m really excited to be a part of this event and can’t wait to share the experience with my family in beautiful Samoa.
Welcome to the Swim Dale.

Peter Fahey 
Australia

We're looking forward to having Peter at the Swim. Fully paid and will post his profile and brief up soon. 

Christie Leet 
Australia 

We're looking forward to having Christie at the Swim. Fully paid and will post his profile and brief up soon. 

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.

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!



​ 
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.

​