For Carina Bruwer, her 12th Robben Island swim was more than just a personal milestone; it was a lesson in resilience with her young daughters in tow.
Cape Town, South Africa (27 February 2026) – There’s a saying about Robben Island: there is no such thing as an easy crossing. On Wednesday, one of Africa’s most decorated female open-water marathon swimmers, Carina Bruwer, returned to these unpredictable waters. This time joined by two very special companions: her daughters.
Carina shared that while this marked her 12th crossing, it had been 12 years since she last swam the Robben Island to Bloubergstrand route. Although the water was delightfully warm, a powerful cross-current meant the swim was less about chasing a fast time and more about the challenge of staying on course.
“I finished the 7.5km in 2:14. There were moments that remind you how alive that stretch of ocean is: a whale surfacing metres away, a seal inspecting from below, the familiar sting of a few jellyfish. The Atlantic doesn’t let you forget where you are,” Carina reflects.
The most rewarding part of the swim was Carina being joined by her daughter, Italia, who pushed through the waves to complete her first crossing.
“The current was difficult, and she felt it. I wasn’t alongside her in the water, but I know what that cross-current demands psychologically. Open water strips everything back – you can’t negotiate with conditions, and you can’t hide from yourself.”
With steady guidance from Dave and support from her sister, Melina, who jumped in at the 3km mark and swam nearly 5km to the finish with her, Italia succeeded.
Filled with surprise and pride in her daughters and gratitude for the ocean that keeps teaching us, Carina says that for her, the decision to keep going when it would be easier not to was both significant and deeply personal.
She says, reflecting on their shared resilience and lessons learned:
“Yesterday wasn’t about my 12th crossing. It was about young learnings and breakthroughs – choosing something hard, and holding your line when the current pushes back.”
Sources: Carina Bruwer
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