A former Eastern Province swimmer and Stirling High School teacher has found a new lease on life by diving headfirst into open water swimming and in February swam to Robben Island — and back.
East London-born Kim Loppnow, 58, who now lives in Cape Town and teaches at Fish Hoek High as the school’s computer applications technology subject head, says swimming long distances in the ocean makes her feel “as free as a dolphin”.
“I truly feel a sense of pure freedom and it is where I do most of my thinking.
“There are times when the vastness of the ocean can be a bit intimidating, but its beauty is something one cannot fully describe without being in it.”
Loppnow, who matriculated at Collegiate Girls’ High in Gqeberha, where she was a prefect, house captain and swimming captain, swam competitively from a very young age.
“I won my first certificate for the four-year-old ‘non-breathers’ one width swim at the Long Street indoor pool in Cape Town.
“I am a real water baby. I love the water and the peace and tranquillity it gives me.
“I swam provincially for Eastern Province from the age of about eight and continued swimming until I was 21.
“My coach, Brian Elliot, who was the founder of Aquabear Swim Club in PE, was my inspiration, my drive and my ‘go-to’ person. He was like my second dad.
“I would not have achieved my swimming goals if it wasn’t for coach — I have the utmost admiration for him.”
While studying for an HDE at the University of Port Elizabeth (now Nelson Mandela University) in the 1980s, Loppnow taught children to swim at Aquabear Swim Club and, during her 25 years at Stirling High, also coached swimming.
“I do some coaching at FHHS now, but my main swimming responsibility is manager of swimming,” she said.
Her long-held aspiration to swim to Robben Island began to take shape once she relocated to Cape Town at the end of 2017.
“This had been a dream for as many years as I can remember but I was able to make it a reality when I moved to Cape Town as I could train in the open water, get to know other swimmers that had done the swim and find out about which skippers offer their services for Robben Island crossings.
“I have always been a pool swimmer — I swam provincially for Eastern Province from the age of about 11 till I was 21 — and had never considered doing open water swimming.”
But the more time she spent walking her dogs on beaches near to her Fish Hoek home, the more she met swimmers who knew about ocean swimming.
“I finally took the ‘plunge’ and have never looked back — I’m addicted, it’s my passion.
“Apart from being my happy place and an amazing stress reliever, I have met so many incredible swimmers who all have a story to tell and I find it so interesting to listen to the swims they have done and how they prepare.”
The more she immersed herself in the sea, the more her plan to swim to Nelson Mandela’s prison island took shape and in July 2024 she took 2 hrs 35 min to get from Big Bay in Blouberg to the island, a distance of 7.4km.
“The skipper of my first Robben Island crossing was Howard Warrington who swam with me and pushed me.
“He is aiming for his 212th crossing soon — absolutely incredible!”
Not content with this impressive feat, Loppnow was soon plotting another mega accomplishment — this time to swim to the island and back again.
“My single Robben Island crossing was a lifetime goal and once I had achieved this, I was looking for another challenge — the double crossing.
“When you do open water swimming, you swim with various groups and find the one you feel most comfortable with and who have the same pace and goals as you — and also who you get along with.
“This is how I met my double Robben Island crossing partner, Carla Marais.
“We started chatting about this swim and training together, and it became a reality on February 7.”
The women took 5:55 to swim 15.2km in chilly water, ranging between 12°C and 15.2ºC.
“We swam in wetsuits so initially we weren’t cold but our core temp dropped on the last 4km and we were really cold.
“Our skipper was Roger Finch and his wife, Lindsay.
“Roger himself has done many crazy and incredible open water swims, including the English Channel.”
Energy boosts were required to keep the swimmers moving on their epic swim.
“We had four or five ‘feeds’ along the way, in the form of an energy gel or energy drink or water.
“One of our feeds was warm rooibos tea with honey and almond milk — and it tasted divine.
“Feeds are very important and can’t be skipped.
“Swimmers are not allowed to touch or assist each other, neither may we touch the boat or the skipper.
“I struggle with calf cramps on long distances and this swim was no exception.
“My left calf cramped so badly, my toes even curled up and no-one could help — I just had to stretch out the cramp until it was gone, which felt like an eternity.
“Carla is a physio so she talked me through it which really helped.
“I will always treasure her encouraging singing at one stage — ‘Just keep swimming, just keep swimming’.”
With 4km to go and bone-aching weariness setting in, the swell came up and swim strokes became challenging, despite Marais’s soothing crooning.
“It was tough and felt like the longest 4km of my life.
“The stunning view of Table Mountain to our right was a huge inspiration to me — I was reminded of the magnificent city we live in and how truly blessed we are to be able to enjoy its natural beauty.
“I had to focus so hard on my breathing and with every stroke I had to remind myself of how I should be pulling through the water.
“It took huge mental and physical effort.
“Having Carla swimming next to me was a great comfort as I knew we were both feeling the fatigue.”
A question she is often asked is whether she worries about sharks and other lurgies of the deep.
“I get asked often if I’m not scared of sharks. Yes I am, I would be ignorant to disregard their presence, but I have not personally had a scary encounter with a shark.
“I’m crossing my finger and my toes as I say this.
“We have swum with seals but are more cautious now due to the rabies outbreak in seals.
“Jellyfish can become a problem, but very seldom.
“Swimming in a wetsuit prevents being stung, but I have swum with other swimmers who have been in a costume and been stung — it’s not nice at all.
“But generally I have been very fortunate with regards to scary sightings.
“We often get itchy and come out in welts from sea creatures but it’s a small price to pay.
“It is such a privilege to see rays, dolphins, fish, shy sharks, pyjama sharks, little puffer fish, cuttlefish.
“My daughter and I even saw a beautiful sunfish swimming really close to us.
“Many family members and friends think I’m crazy to swim in open water where sharks lurk, but I still think it’s safer than cycling and other extreme sports.”
In fact, far from giving in to any deep sea anxieties, Loppnow finds open water swimming restorative and calming.
“It is extremely therapeutic. Not always during a swim and sometimes only once I’m dressed and had a coffee because the conditions can get nasty, but when I am in a rhythm, it feels amazing.
“The water is where I do my thinking and planning about the next day and life in general.
“It’s the one place I can be quiet, where I don’t have to talk and my mind can wander and drift.
“Now that my children are adults, I have more ‘me time’. And I have realised that I am capable of more than I ever thought.”
With this in mind, another long-distance swim is in the pipeline.
“Three other swimmers and I plan to do the False Bay crossing early next year.
“This is a 35km swim from Rooi Els and is done in a relay.
“Apparently it is very challenging but I am excited to make it another swim I can tick off on my bucket list.
“As my confidence grows, so does the distance I swim. And the enjoyment I get from open water swimming is endless — it is just my best place to be.”
Weekender
