Swimmer completes gruelling False Bay Crossing after a two-year wait

Marathon swimmer Christine Roos described her successful swim across False Bay on November 19 as brutal but beautiful.

After a two-year wait to fulfil her dream, in which bad weather and a broken foot derailed her plans, the 32-year-old finally completed the 33km swim from Millers Point to Rooi Els in 11:24:52.

She became one of only 15 people to finish the ultra-swimming event, known as the Everest of Cape swims.

The Northmead resident explained it was the toughest thing she’d ever done, saying it was a long time coming and adding that she had an incredible experience.

“I learnt the true meaning of expecting the unexpected. Although I enjoy swimming in colder temperatures, the 17 degrees on the water took my breath away. I had to breathe through my nerves,” she said.

On her way to the finish, she faced lots of obstacles, including coming face to face with jellyfish, fatigue and costume malfunctions.

“It did get ugly. I got into a dark space. At some point I never felt I was in the water.

“In the first few kilometres, I faced an overwhelming amount of jellyfish, which I’ve only ever viewed from behind a glass. It freaked me out. My strokes felt like I was pulling through jelly at some points.

“I got stung on the hand and foot in the first 10km but I took it in my stride and took an allergen as a precaution,” explained Roos.

Despite several challenges, including excruciating pain in her left shoulder after 18km and physical and mental fatigue with 1.6km to the finish, she soldiered on and made her way to the shore where she collapsed into her mother’s arms.

“The last 1.6km were brutal,” she said.

“I was struggling. My arms were finished. I didn’t have anything left in me.

“I stumbled my way to the beach trying to find my footing. I collapsed into my mother’s arms broken and in tears when I finished. I had just completed the False Bay crossing,” she added.

She thanked her support team for their guidance, saying without them, her dream wouldn’t have come true.
“I got it done. At some point I didn’t think I was going to finish. I doubted myself. But I’m grateful I attempted and finished it.”

Swimming for a good cause

Roos raised around R70 000 for the SA Bone Marrow Registry, for which she’s an ambassador, through the swim and a BackABuddy crowdfunding campaign.

The proceeds will go towards the registry’s patient assistance programme.

She became a bone marrow donor in 2019. She completed the 7.5km Blouberg Crossing from the Big Bay to Robben Island in 2021 to raise awareness and funds for families that can’t find a donor.

She encouraged people to become stem cell donors to help patients who need stem cells and bone marrow transplants.

Also Read: Swimming for a good cause

Also Read: Help Benoni’s Robben Island swimmer raise funds for SA Bone Marrow Registry