Second channel swim attempt a success for Southampton swimmerLocal disabled swimmer Rosalinda Hardiman successfully completed a solo swim across the English Channel during September, in a time of 20 hours and 17 minutes. The 57-year old was disabled by poliomyelitis in early childhood, yet still managed to successfully complete one of the greatest sporting challenges this year. Fewer people have swum the Channel than have climbed Mount Everest yet wheelchair user Rosalinda has been training towards her dream for a long time.
Last year in 2008 she failed just 0.7 of a mile off the French coast after over 25 hours in the water. Cold and exhaustion proved too much last time, but this time nothing was going to stop her. The swim proved to be tough, even though the weather was fine and sea state slight, sickness was an issue, along with a large number of jellyfish just off the French coast, making the final mile a bit more panful than expected.
In 2006 and 2007 she was a member of successful Channel relay teams and in 2007 she swam the eleven-mile length of Lake Windermere solo in seven hours and thirty-two minutes. She was a successful pool swimmer, representing Britain at European and World Championships for the Disabled and at the Atlanta and Sydney Paralympic Games. In her career she has broken several world records but now hopes to achieve her dream of swimming from England to France, her determination fuelled by memories of her unsuccessful attempt last year.
Training for this demands regular attendance at sessions in Dover harbour – up to eight hours at a time in the water. However, with her swimming speed it will take her at least about 20 hours to cross to France. At a minimum she will use about 90,000 arm strokes, more than for an able-bodied swimmer as she has no use of her legs in the water.
Apart from the swim itself, she faces extra problems to able-bodied Channel swimmers as she must crawl up the beach on her hands and stomach like a seal to get clear of the water at both the start and the finish of the swim, whereas other swimmers can walk ashore. Unless a swimmer is clear of the water at start and finish the attempt is void so she has to tackle this further challenge.
Rosalinda does not receive any funding for this attempt, having to find all costs including boat and pilot hire from her own resources. Her indoor training is with the Portsmouth Triathletes and Southampton Swimming Club. In her day job she is the Museums Collections Manager for Portsmouth City Museums and Records Service and is a member of Soroptimist International of Gosport, Fareham and District. |
Latest News 
