Four students have set themselves the ambitious goal of collectively swimming the distance across the English Channel (34.8km) next week in the school’s pool, to raise money for the Trinity Malawi Project.
Sixth Formers Jared, Pierre, Alex, and Fifth Year Oliver – all members of the national champion Water Polo 1st team – are aiming to swim the 1,400 lengths of the pool in pairs next Wednesday 26 June. They have just 6.5 hours to complete the challenge, which they have been training for since December. Swimming in pairs will ‘double’ the average time required for a 25m length from 16.7 seconds (which is impossible) to 33.4 seconds. This is an extremely demanding swim for the foursome, each swimming up to 350 lengths each. There are rumours that Mr King may also join them in the water, to help reach their target.
All money raised will go towards building a new classroom suite at our partner school Chipwepwete Primary in Malawi. The team has a JustGiving page, and all donations are hugely appreciated.
Head Boy Jared shared the inspiration:
The story
All four of us regularly train before school in the school pool, and it was after a particularly gruelling high-intensity session that we were inspired to pursue this monumental challenge. Suffering in the changing rooms after managing to drag ourselves out of the pool, young Oliver (‘Stepho’) weakly gasped “I feel like I’ve just swum the English Channel.” To which Pierre said, “Wait, we should actually do that.” And boom, the idea was born.
We planned to follow in the footsteps of a group of Trinity students from a few years ago [alumni Niamh Singleton, Funmi Morgan, Will Perry, Tate Nicol, Sarah Rogers and Adam Eastlake who completed the challenge in 2018], but, much to our disappointment, we discovered that we would need to have booked a Channel swim slot a year in advance to have any real chance of doing it. And with our powerhouse Pierre leaving at the end of this year we saw that it wouldn’t be possible and thought all hope was lost. However, we were determined not to let this bitter news get in the way of our mission to raise money for the Trinity Malawi Project. We put our heads together and landed on the idea of swimming the length of the Channel in our school pool. And while the idea of swimming up and down the infamously hyper-chlorinated Trinity pool 1,400 times haunts us in our dreams, we are determined to get it done for Malawi – even if we’ve only given ourselves 6 hours to do so!
The team
Pierre (aka Powerhouse Pierre) – The esteemed Deputy Head of School’s experience with the U19 GB water polo squad means he eats challenges for breakfast. His infectious French panache is perhaps best embodied by the bright blue King of Spades budgie smugglers he frequently sports, and his iron mindset is deeply woven into the team’s collective mentality. If he can swim a 200m butterfly at the end of a tough Monday morning swim set and come out smiling, we can swim the English Channel, no problem.
Jared (aka “JT!”) – Despite being able to swim two length underwater, those are not gills you see on his neck, they’re medals – as a former national-level swimmer and decorated athlete, the newly elected Head Boy has often been mistaken for a fish when in the pool. A fish that can score goals, that is – a member of the 1st XV water polo squad since Fourth Year and a former GB water polo squad member, he knows how to lead a team to victory. He will use his long limbs to drag the team to success, no matter what.
Alex (aka Alexander the Great) – Few enjoy the privilege of being physically fitter than the indefatigable Alex. Being a multi-discipline GB athlete comes with its advantages – because despite having zero free time owing to his commitments to GB water polo, GB biathle, modern pentathlon and national-level running competitions, you can consider yourself lucky to catch Alex “Farah” out of breath. His unparalleled stamina levels will help him pull his weight, and then some – ideal, since we need someone to catch up Stepho’s skipped lengths.
Oliver (aka Speedo Stepho) – Perhaps the kindest member of the team, the charitable Ollie is more than happy to share out his laps on morning swim sessions. But don’t question his commitment to the team or you’ll find yourself face-to-face with a far less magnanimous character, one who crushes his goals without mercy. An effervescent fountain of wisecracks, Speedo Stepho will be the hero we call upon should we find ourselves in a dark place on this epic quest.
Mr King (aka The King of Trin) – There are fewer titles better deserved than that of the gregarious Head of Sport’s. A 2012 Olympian and supreme lord of the renowned Trinity water polo team, he has a proven track record of producing successful results; the number of national titles won during his tenure eludes measure. Some say he will simply play the role of lifeguard, others whisper excitedly about his anticipated return to the pool. Either way, the team count themselves lucky to be in the company of aquatic royalty.
…
Scroll right to see more stories
