I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my English Channel swim—not just the physical feat, but the emotional ripples that continue to surface. Maybe it’s the talks I give and the way I adapt them as life changes? Or is it the questions people ask that make me reflect more deeply? Im not sure but whatever the reason, I’ve realised that the swim didn’t just change my life—it changed how I see others, and how I support them too.
One of the most meaningful additions to my talks recently is the idea of growth—not just as a swimmer, but as a person. Since completing the Channel, I’ve found joy not only in my own swimming but in helping others realise and achieve their goals. This year, I’ve had the privilege of being a support swimmer twice. It wasn’t about coaching or teaching. It was about being there, quietly, to help someone believe they could do something they once thought impossible.
Oona’s 400m: A Moment That Changed Us Both
I’ve already written about the first person I supported this year—Oona, an 11-year-old from Scotland who uses a wheelchair and loves the water as much as I do. You can read that blog here. Meeting Oona was a joy. Introducing her to the open water community and watching her thrive during the Level Water swim was unforgettable. When we lay side by side at the edge of the lake, surrounded by cheers and tears, and she said, “I can’t believe I just did that”.
That sentence hit me hard. I had helped her do something she didn’t think was possible. The pride I felt in her—and in myself—was immense.
The second moment I’ve had this year was with Sophie at Swim Serpentine and again, I clearly remember it (and a blog is coming soon). We were swimming by huge purple buoys at the end of the lake, with spectators looking down over the bridge and along the bank and Sophie turned and said to me “I’m actually going to finish this aren’t I? I am going to do it”.
It made me realise why having the chance to help someone do something they thought impossible matters so much to me. Its quite simple really – I’ve experienced that feeling and its pretty incredible.
The first time I experienced the feeling was in 2021 when I completed my Windermere 2 way swim. Having had major surgery only 6 weeks earlier I didn’t know if I would be on the start line, let alone finishing it, I was so proud and happy. However, during those moments with Oona and Sophie I felt like it was bigger than the feeling I had in Windermere, for them, it was more like the feeling when my hand touched sand in France.
I’ve never really talked about that moment before. It’s hard to describe, and I imagine it’s different for everyone. For me, it was truly life-changing.
When I could see the sea bed under me it was like my heart skipped a beat, a huge smile came on my face and i told myself that it was one final push before I would be able to say I swam the English Channel.
Around 20 meters away from the beach, I started feeling the waves starting to catch me and push me into shore Lance (my pilot) beached the RIB boat and was cheering and encouraging me, 10 meters and my hand touched the sand of the French beach, I kept swimming. Less than 5 meters till I would have to start crawling and finally, I found myself laying on the beach in France on my stomach, small waves surrounding me, the sunrise happening behind me. It was time to crawl.
Lance still encouraging me, saying I hadn’t finished till there was land between me and the water so to keep crawling. It felt like miles, I could see the edge of the water but felt like I couldn’t reach it. I had a rest and a talking to myself and just told myself I’d swum for more than 20 hours and I wasn’t letting the pain in my legs from needing to crawl 10 meters further stop me from having my swim ratified.
I finally sat on the beach, looking out to the channel I had just swum, the sun coming up in the distance; I’d done it. There was no big cheer or celebration when I cleared the water, I didn’t have the energy for that and being honest, the moment that truly changed me was the time I touched the sand. However, I smiled to myself and said you are a channel swimmer (in my head because it was too much effort to do and say).
It was the best feeling, sure I felt (and looked) awful but I had proved to myself that my disability didn’t matter, I had gone and done what I said I was going to and done it in my own way.
Since then, I have believed that everyone should have the chance to feel that way about something. It was utterly life changing for me. If I could do something like that and feel that way why couldn’t others? Now, if I can help someone else to have a moment where their dream has come true, I will always jump at the chance.