Give Things a Go!

With thanks to the Marlborough Express for their input into this article.

The question came to mind. Could I, approaching 50 with one foot, a back injury and weak legs, do a better personal best than when I was in my physical prime at 30 years of age?” That led to earning a Guinness World Record for swimming a distance of 62 metres underwater without fins. Not only that, but in doing so helping to raise awareness of Voices of Hope. 

In 2015, I had to have a foot amputation following years of ongoing care for a spinal injury. Two years later, while in Australia, I saw again a former Iron Man friend, who explained the concept of cold showers to me. We challenged each other to see who could go the longest without taking a warm shower. Three months later, I'd won, but something in me wanted to keep going. If one year, why not two? and now eight years later, I still haven't had one. 

Reaching 62 metres, in both a 25m and 50m pool, my longest static dive (being underwater but not moving) was four minutes and 45 seconds, deepest previously aged 30, 30m, no fins or touching the rope in the Royal Navy Submarine Escape Training Facility, Bournemouth, UK. The record of 62m was a first for someone with reduced leg strength, an amputation below the knee, and someone with both, earning me a world record in 3 categories of disabilities.

Proud of my cap and certificate, I'm absolutely thrilled about this achievement. It's very humbling to have the support of Voices of Hope, and them being incredibly proud and excited for me. It hasn't always been an easy journey.

Being the first amputee in Aotearoa, New Zealand, to participate in competitive ice swimming, open water the first time, my first race since high school, 30 years earlier, I felt a lot of pressure. “I have to make it – the first amputee can’t fail on the first attempt,” I commented to the Marlborough Express.

After some searching, I discovered the AIDA Freediving New Zealand Pool Nationals, hosted by the Auckland Freediving Club. From there, I contacted them about potential disabled categories and, to my surprise, a response from a free-diver who had previous experience of diving with a no-kick stroke. “That was really exciting for me. Hearing that was so powerful. Maybe I can just not kick and still achieve something.”

This year, I competed in the Southern Hemisphere Ice Swimming Championships, the water at just 2 degrees Celsius, taking on any and all events I felt confident in completing, a bit concerned about a 500m swim! While these were in a pool and not open water, it was a big challenge as it was twice as far as the year before. My races including a relay make me a x 10-time ice swimmer and earned me the swimmer’s choice award for perseverance and humility. Also became the first male para swimmer to have ever taken on  50 and 100m backstroke, they sat for some time on the IISA website as two more world records.  

I first learnt about Voices of Hope from fellow ice swimmer, Maddy, who was also competing in the event. Maddy had been helped greatly by Voices of Hope visiting her school and speaking with the students and she wanted to raise funds to help support their mahi. Maddy thanks everyone who donated or shared this message as she wants to reach as many people as possible. “Let's go make a positive impact in the world.”

Over the last eight years, the main thing I have learnt was to give things a go. I encourage everyone, as in the article, to “Go and enter an event. There’s power in entering something. It might be a 5km walk, or join an ocean swim club ... Do a pool introductory free-diving course. It will probably be the most interesting thing you do that week.”

It could well be, my greatest achievement, to be part of raising awareness and funds to help get Voices of Hope to do school talks locally, to continue touring across the country and inspire year 7 and older children / rangatahi to hold on to hope and to reach out. I am greatly inspired by Maddy for her bravery & and Voices of Hope for their mahi.

-Brent