The Swim That Proved I Could Do It
Hello there,
Welcome to the third part of the story, if you missed part one and two you can read them here (What happens naivety finds determination and What is your unfinished business).
The day before the race, I sat down with Phil Rush, one of the best swimmers in the world, to finalize my strategy.
“No wetsuit,” I told him.
This is the real thing.
The morning of the race, my coach gave me a final word of encouragement:
“You are ready… Go and enjoy that swim of yours.” (I still get emotional thinking about it!)
This time, I wasn’t alone.
My friend Shelley was there with me as my support person, cheering me on, feeding me, and looking after me every stroke of the swim.
I could also feel the energy of the people I’d trained with pushing me forward.
As I stood on the shore of Lake Taupō, nerves swirled with the mist rising off the water.
Lake Taupō isn’t just a body of water—it’s a sacred place for the Māori people, and I’d visited it the day before to pay my respects.
Paying my respects to Lake Taupō
This wasn’t just another swim; it felt like something much bigger.
Still, as I stood on the shore, that familiar doubt crept in: Can I actually do this again?
But this time, I had an answer:
“Yes, because I’d done the work.”
The Swim
The water was cold, the waves choppy.
Without a wetsuit, I felt the chill settle into my muscles almost immediately.
At times, the old fear bubbled up, whispering that I wasn’t strong enough or fast enough.
But instead of letting it take over, I focused on my training.
I trusted the hours I’d spent perfecting my stroke, the early mornings in the pool, the nutrition I’d dialed in, and the mindset I’d built.
“This wasn’t just about physical endurance—it was about mental resilience.”
Halfway through, the weight of the distance hit me.
The water stretched endlessly ahead, and the shoreline felt impossibly far away.
My body screamed to stop, but I remembered why I was there: this wasn’t just a swim—it was about proving to myself that I could commit, train, and conquer what once felt insurmountable.
Every stroke was a battle, but every battle was one I knew I could win.
The Finish
When I finally touched the shore, the relief was overwhelming.
My lips were blue from the cold, and I stood there, shivering, with tears in my eyes.
Pride, gratitude, and relief washed over me.
“I had done it”
I had done it
The next day, I went for a little swim—not for training, not for a race, to say thank you to the lake and close the circle.
Your Challenge
That swim taught me that true growth comes when you push beyond what feels comfortable.
It’s not just about finishing the race—it’s about how you show up, how you prepare, and how you face the challenges along the way.
So let me ask you:
What’s your “Lake Taupō”?
What’s the challenge you need to face, fully and fearlessly
What would it take to not just survive it, but thrive in it?
The water’s cold, the waves are choppy, but the reward?
It’s worth it.
Thanks for reading 🖤
Aitana
