Sixteen year old girl wins icy Cadiz Youth Day ocean swim

Press Release / 18.06.2010

Sixteen-year-old swimming sensation Lisa Cowling overcame rough seas, icy weather and a 14 degree water temperature to win the 1.8km Cadiz Youth Day Swim in Camps Bay, Cape Town on Wednesday which raised R10 000 to help educate street children.

Cowling, in a time of 28 min 45, was the youngest participant and was first overall in a field of 27 swimmers who braved a bitter cold front and big swells to raise funds for The Homestead which helps re-integrate street children into communities.

First male home was Henko Roukema, 17, just under a minute behind Cowling in a time of 29:34.

The swim, which raised R10 000 through entry fees and a donation from Cadiz, was part of the Cadiz Swim Series, a host of ocean swims which raise funds for good causes. Speedo SA is a sub-sponsor of the series.

Cowling, who is a member of the SA national swim training squad, said afterwards:
“It was a good race but the water was cold and the chop was hard. It was quite challenging but I got through it...”

The swimmers mostly wore only Speedo costumes, goggles and swim caps.

The Homestead’s director, Sandra Morreira, said the R10 000 raised from the swim would help transport street children to and from school.

Ram Barkai, CEO of Cadiz (www.cadiz.co.za) and world renowned ice swimmer said the Cadiz Swim Series had raised in excess of R50 000 over the past year for good causes.