73-year-old Aussie grandma to attempt Channel swim today
Brisbane grandmother, Irene Keel, 73, is resting up ahead of swimming the English Channel this afternoon at 3pm AEST. If she is successful she will break three world records.
“Three titles for the price of one swim – I think that’s pretty good,” Irene tells Over60 when we spoke to her yesterday as she was preparing for the 34km marathon.
The grandmother-of-three from Tingalpa, who didn’t take up swimming until she was 50, is doing the swim in honour of her friend, Scott Sullivan, who died in April from motor neurone disease. “I have been inspired by Scott who did so much to raise funds for the disease,” Irene says.
If successful in crossing the Channel, Irene will be, in her own words, “the least youngest person,” “the least youngest woman” and “the least youngest Australian” to swim across the Channel – so it should come as no surprise that athlete has already exceeded her target of raising $7000 for MND and ME.
One of her coaches, and English Channel world record holder, Trent Grimsey has been training Irene as well as another coach, Charmain Frend. When his oldest client came to him with the challenge in mind, Trent said he thought it was “pretty cool”. “She’s a great athlete who goes above and beyond in everything she does.” It is expected that it could take Irene more than 15 hours to cross from England to France.
After waiting patiently in England for a few weeks for the ideal weather conditions, Irene is raring to go. “It’s always been called the Everest of swimming,” she says, adding, “They say about 85 per cent mental, 15 per cent physical. And I’d go along with that. You really have to have a clear mind.”
As an inspiration to many and proof that you’re never too old to take on a challenge, the Brisbanite hopes to motivate others with her efforts. “To encourage older people to look after their health and increase their fitness,” she says would make her very happy. “If it inspires just one person to go and do more exercise, whether it’s swimming or anything else, then I will have achieved something and I’ll be very happy about that.”
The current holder as the oldest swimmer to cross the English Channel is Bondi lifesaver, Cyril Baldock, who only claimed the title in late August. Irene’s toughest opponent, however, will likely be Mother Nature. While Irene says, “The water has been warmer than previous years,” she adds, “The weather has been very unsettled a lot of the time.”
To spur her on when she’s in the water she’ll have a photo of Scott in her sights she tells Over60. “For me the motivation will be Scott’s photo up on the side of my boat. There’ll be a big banner with a lovely picture of Scott smiling. And apart from that the only thing I’ll be thinking about is my stroke and my breathing.”
Good luck, Irene!
Find out how you can donate money to the cause here.