John Flanigan Completes Robben Island to Blouberg Swim at 80

Photo Credit: Marzahn Botha - Supplied

After weeks of delays, John Flanigan completes the Robben Island to Blouberg crossing against the odds, making him one of the oldest people to complete this mission.

Cape Town, South Africa (09 January 2026) – When John Flanigan finally emerged from the Atlantic Ocean at Blouberg, relief came first and then the realisation that he had just done something extraordinary.

At 80 years old, the Cape Town swimmer has officially completed the iconic Robben Island to Blouberg crossing, becoming the oldest person ever to do so, a feat now ratified by the Cape Long Distance Swim Association. This record was previously held by Dr Otto Thaning, who completed the crossing at 80 years and 22 days. John has now taken the title at 80 years and 91 days, making him the oldest swimmer ever to achieve the feat.

“It was a long, long wait. We were ready in October. We were at our peak, and then the conditions just didn’t allow it. When you wait that long, you lose momentum and have to build yourself up all over again.”

Cape Town’s unpredictable weather delayed the attempt for weeks, testing his preparation. By the time the window finally opened, John knew the swim would not be easy, and it wasn’t. The crossing was gruelling, especially in the final stretch.

“There was a moment where I thought, am I going to make it?” he admitted. “And then I told myself, no, there’s no way I’m not going to make it.”

That resolve carried him to the shore, where family, friends and his ocean community were waiting. Messages of support poured in soon after, something John says he is still processing.

Beyond the record, the swim has sparked something bigger. As the driving force behind the Topaz Swim Buddies (a growing open water group), John says his achievement has encouraged others to push their own limits.

“People keep asking me what advice I can give, especially to older people. All I can say is: keep moving. Don’t let the couch win. Do something, anything to stay active.”

Watching from the beach was his wife of nearly 60 years, Anne, who described the experience as emotionally overwhelming.

“I don’t ever want to go through something like this again,” she said. “But when he finally came in, the feeling was unbelievable. Even now, I still get emotional thinking about it.”

John’s swim follows a journey first shared ahead of the crossing, in which he shared how he and his wife, Anne, built the Topaz Swim Buddies. The initiative grew from simple cold-water dips into a structured ocean community, providing the foundation for John’s Robben Island to Blouberg attempt and the support network behind his successful crossing.

The swim also raised over R21,000 for Down Syndrome research, surpassing its initial fundraising goal of R15,000.

For John Flanigan, the crossing stands as a reminder that age is not a finish line.

Note: The Cape Long Distance Swim Association recognises two record categories: Skins and Wetsuit. Dr Otto Thaning holds the Skins record (2021) at 80 years and 22 days. John Flanigan now holds the Wetsuit record at 80 years and 91 days, making him the oldest finisher overall to date.