Durban North resident makes a splash for conservation
Sarah Ferguson is currently training for a seven day swim from Mtunzini to Durban from 12 to 18 October where she will be swimming with sharks in the open waters off KZN's coastline.
“WHEN I started this journey I was looking for something that wasn’t well-known, where I could use my talents to make a difference.”
Well-known professional swimmer and Durban North resident, Sarah Ferguson who represented South Africa in 2009 at the FINA World Cup in Singapore, is making waves as an eco warrior.
She was the first person to swim around Easter Island, a feat she completed in March this year. Having completed several similar long distance swims to raise awareness about plastics pollution in the world’s oceans, she is currently training for a seven day swim from Mtunzini to Durban from 12 to 18 October where she will be swimming with sharks in the open waters off KZN’s coastline. Funds raised during the event will go toward KZN Beach Clean Up, Wild Oceans and Breathe Conservation.
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“There is a group of people who will be walking the Philocaly Trail and I am going to swim alongside to create awareness. We are also going to be doing research on sharks, documenting their behaviour and how many there are. We will be filming footage to see how sharks react to me. I am swimming along the KZN Wild Coast next year and there will be a lot of sharks in the water, so my team and I will be practicing strategies this time around,” said the Durban North resident.
Swimming with sharks is just one factor in mind as the swimmer prepares for the swim that spans over 130km stretch of coastline.
“Preparation is very important. There are a lot of logistical elements involved. I need to arrange for a boat to accompany me when I swim and accommodation and food for myself and my team. I also need to look at the local ocean conditions and plan around that. In terms of training, I need to ensure I am injury free and ready to go. I swim about six times a week for two to five hours per session and go for weekly massages. I also do weight training twice a week and make sure I eat consistently and regularly,” said Ferguson.
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While the world of sports has long been seen as a male dominated industry, Fergusion said women are often leading the way when it comes to open water and endurance swimming. “Swimming is definitely an equal opportunity sport when it comes to men and women. It’s one of the sports that pay men and women equally, men and women swim in the same leagues at the same time, and names such as Katie Ledecky, Missy Franklin, Penny Heynes, Katinka Hosszú are every bit as recognizable as Michael Pheps, Chad le Clos or Caeleb Dressel. Diana Nyad who was the first person to complete an incredible endurance swim between Cuba and Florida and I was the first person to swim around Eater Island,” she said “Of course there are some issues girls face that boys don’t, and we need to encourage girls to keep swimming as we do in any sport because we know the drop out rate for girls is four times greater than for boys during high school,” she added.
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Ferguson’s first eco-conscious swim was in Hawaii in 2017 when she was inspired to use her talents to draw attention to something that was not well known. “Since then it’s become a viral topic about a global crisis. I’ve always had a passion for the environment and I’ve always hated pollution,” she said. You can also sign up for news alerts on Telegram. Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5532. 
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