Kerry-Lee Gockel, "The Wingless Warrior" - on being "not armed... but still dangerous" and thriving in long-distance open water swimming
Description
Episode 58! Today's conversation is with the incredibly motivated, inspiring and humorous, Brisbane based endurance open water swimmer, born without arms, Kerry-Lee Gockel.
We cover a whole raft of topics based around Kerry-Lee's journey into swimming and in the past five years or so, long-distance ocean swimming events, including:
- Kerry-Lee's birth story; being born - unexpectedly - without arms; and the sanctuary and support her family have provided over the years
- Kerry-Lee's journey from self-proclaimed "the least sporty child" to a highly accomplished swimmer as an adult - initially as a competitor in the pool, before entering her first open water swim in 2004
- The logistics and ins and outs of taking on mammoth 10KM++ ocean swims including training; fuelling and teamwork, "getting into cruising altitude", along with adaptations Kerry-Lee makes as a "wingless warrior" in ocean swells
- Kerry-Lee's experience of the Island Charity Swim from Mudjimba to Moolooolaba on the Sunshine Coast and the connections she and her team have fostered with the Sunshine Coast Special Schools as a result.
- Kerry-Lee's very positive experience of community through open water swimming and how anyone curious about open water swimming can give it a try
- Holidaying with her husband Paul (also a swimmer and former Australian Paralympian) "Ocean Swim Safaris" across the world
- Kerry-Lee's goals and vision for the future, increasing mileage even further!
We recorded this prior to Kerry-Lee taking on the Swim Around Keppel - a 20KM swim, as a team (and in future plans, solo!)
Be sure to say hi to Kerry-Lee on Instagram @thewinglesswarrior
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