Historic swim: Karen Kennedy, 59, completes quadruple Robben Island crossing without wetsuit

Karen Kennedy in the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean. 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. 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.