Historic swim: Karen Kennedy, 59, completes quadruple Robben Island crossing without wetsuit
Karen Kennedy in the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Image: Supplied / Tameryn Pillay
Karen Kennedy, 59, has made history as the first woman to complete a quadruple Robben Island crossing in "skins" (without a wetsuit), covering nearly 30 kilometres in just over 10 hours. Her achievement is pending official ratification by Guinness World Records.
A quadruple crossing requires a swimmer to transit the channel between Bloubergstrand and Robben Island four consecutive times.
The "skins" category follows strict marathon swimming rules, prohibiting wetsuits and allowing only a standard swimsuit, cap, and goggles despite the cold Atlantic temperatures.
Approaching her 60th birthday, Kennedy — a former provincial swimmer who returned to the sport in her 40s — aimed to inspire women over 50 to pursue long-held ambitions.
"Dreams do not have an expiration date," Kennedy said.
"For a long time, many of us were conditioned to believe there are certain roles we should play... but those boundaries aren’t fixed.
“My hope is that women give themselves permission to dream bigger and go after what truly excites them.”
Karen Kennedy halfway to Robben Island.
Image: Supplied / Tameryn Pillay
The swim involved four legs, with Kennedy exiting the water briefly at each end before re-entering.
She faced unpredictable currents and marine life, supported by a crew that provided scheduled nutrition.
Kennedy used rooibos tea mixed with honey as her primary fuel to maintain hydration and warmth without elevating her heart rate.
A dedicated support boat, jointly funded by the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) and Kennedy’s swimming partner, Graham du Toit, played a critical role.
Typically used to guide swimmers, ensure safety and provide scheduled nutrition and hydration, the vessel enabled Kennedy to maintain a strict feeding routine.
Karen Kennedy after she completed her quadruple Robben Island crossing.
Image: Supplied / Tameryn Pillay
Marthane Swart, secretariat of the SARC, praised the achievement: “Karen’s swim is an extraordinary demonstration of resilience, discipline, and determination.”
For Kennedy, the mental battle was the steepest.
“One crossing at a time,” she said, describing her strategy for the daunting distance. “One stroke at a time.”
Kennedy’s record is now awaiting final verification from the Guinness World Records team in London.