Profile
FULL NAME - Louise Stevenson
HOME TOWN - Christchurch, New Zealand
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT - World Record - 4 x 100 Medley Relay, 1st Solo Female Rottnest Channel Swim 2010 & 2011
FAVOURITE QUOTES - "We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” (Kenji Miyazawa)
“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your own estimate of it; and this you
have the power to revoke at any moment.” (Marcus Aurelius)
I was first introduced to water at a very young age. With growing up on a farm, I was privledged and lucky enough to have a pool in my backyard. After trying out a number of sports - gymnastics, athletics just to name a few. I found my love for the water. At age 10 I joined my first swimming squad. It was there where an eight year journey began. I started off swimming 2 times a week and this gradually increased to 10. Throughout the 8 years I swam in numerous pool events in both New Zealand and occassionally in Australia.
Unfortunately at the age of 18, I contracted Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and it saw the end of my swimming career (temporarily). Upon moving to Syndey in 2007 I joined the local surf club - North Bondi. This introduced me to Ocean Swimming. I discovered that my passion for swimming was back. I jumped in and did the first ocean swim of the season and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I continued to swim the rest of the season on very little swimming. It was then that I decided it was time to give Ocean Swimming a really good go and so I jumped back in the pool at the beginning of Winter 2008 and I haven't looked back since.
During 2008 I joined the North Syndey Masters Swimming club and reignitied my passion for racing. It was then that I decided that I would participate in the 2009 World Masters Games in Sydney.
The beginning of 2009 saw me participate in the Rottnest Channel Swim as part of a team and this is where my passion for long distance open water swimming began. It was a memorable experience and I thank the guys who took on as part of their team at the last minute. Following on from this swim there were a number of challenges to complete the swim solo.
After a succesful camapign during the World Masters Games in 2009 I re-set my goals to focus on the open water season and it was then I confirmed my participation in the Rottnest Channel Swim as a solo swimmer.
2010 saw me take on the Rottnest Channel as a solo competitor.
Winning my first marathon swimming event in early 2010 (www.rottnestchannelswim.com.au) kick started a new sporting passion. Since then I have swum between Sydney Harbour Bridge and Manly Wharf Bar, Coogee Beach and Bondi Beach, and throughout many beaches around Sydney. I have also swum to raise money for charity (Black Dog Instittue & Centenary Institute Medical Research Foundation), to raise awareness for important causes/research. I am currently looking to compete in Fiji in 2010 and Rottnest Channel Swim in 2011.
One key to success is maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. I have a number of health issues and swimming provides me the opportunity to have a healthy lifestyle. It is also an amazing opportunity to develop life-long friendships throughout the world.
FAMILY: Parents, 1 brother (Spot) and 1 sister (Kate)
EDUCATION: Diploma in Sport
SWIMMING LOCATIONS: Bondi Beach, Ice Bergs (Bondi), Andrew Boy Charlton
SWIMMING HIGHLIGHTS: The amazing amount of support I have receive from my family, friends and workmates. They make the hard work worth every minute of it.
BIGGEST INFLUENCE: The people who have had the greatest influence on my swimming career to date are my parents – the first people to believe in my sporting potential.
SWIMMING IDOL: Danyon Loader (Double Olympic Gold Medalist 1996)
LONGEST CONTINUOUS SWIM: 20km, covered in 4 hours and 56 mins (Rottnest Channel Swim - 2011).
FAVOURITE PLACE I HAVE SWAM: Fiji. The coral and sealife is breathtaking and swimming with the Mantaray's was unforgetable.
COLDEST PLACE I HAVE SWAM: 16C, Bondi Beach - February 2009.
GOALS: Beachcomber Island Swim 2011, Gold Coast Half Marathon, and 1 more that is very close to my heart.
WHO MOTIVATES ME: Vlad. Training everyday throughout Summer and Winter is tough. I can't thank Vlad enough for his enthusiasm, energy and ability to always make everything seem so positive.
FAVOURITE - FOOD: Snakes, DRINK: Mojito, MUSIC: Anything, MOVIE: The Green Mile
FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION: Anywhere there is sun, sand, cocktails and warm water.
TOUGHEST COMPETITOR: Myself
HOME TOWN - Christchurch, New Zealand
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT - World Record - 4 x 100 Medley Relay, 1st Solo Female Rottnest Channel Swim 2010 & 2011
FAVOURITE QUOTES - "We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” (Kenji Miyazawa)
“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your own estimate of it; and this you
have the power to revoke at any moment.” (Marcus Aurelius)
I was first introduced to water at a very young age. With growing up on a farm, I was privledged and lucky enough to have a pool in my backyard. After trying out a number of sports - gymnastics, athletics just to name a few. I found my love for the water. At age 10 I joined my first swimming squad. It was there where an eight year journey began. I started off swimming 2 times a week and this gradually increased to 10. Throughout the 8 years I swam in numerous pool events in both New Zealand and occassionally in Australia.
Unfortunately at the age of 18, I contracted Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and it saw the end of my swimming career (temporarily). Upon moving to Syndey in 2007 I joined the local surf club - North Bondi. This introduced me to Ocean Swimming. I discovered that my passion for swimming was back. I jumped in and did the first ocean swim of the season and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I continued to swim the rest of the season on very little swimming. It was then that I decided it was time to give Ocean Swimming a really good go and so I jumped back in the pool at the beginning of Winter 2008 and I haven't looked back since.
During 2008 I joined the North Syndey Masters Swimming club and reignitied my passion for racing. It was then that I decided that I would participate in the 2009 World Masters Games in Sydney.
The beginning of 2009 saw me participate in the Rottnest Channel Swim as part of a team and this is where my passion for long distance open water swimming began. It was a memorable experience and I thank the guys who took on as part of their team at the last minute. Following on from this swim there were a number of challenges to complete the swim solo.
After a succesful camapign during the World Masters Games in 2009 I re-set my goals to focus on the open water season and it was then I confirmed my participation in the Rottnest Channel Swim as a solo swimmer.
2010 saw me take on the Rottnest Channel as a solo competitor.
Winning my first marathon swimming event in early 2010 (www.rottnestchannelswim.com.au) kick started a new sporting passion. Since then I have swum between Sydney Harbour Bridge and Manly Wharf Bar, Coogee Beach and Bondi Beach, and throughout many beaches around Sydney. I have also swum to raise money for charity (Black Dog Instittue & Centenary Institute Medical Research Foundation), to raise awareness for important causes/research. I am currently looking to compete in Fiji in 2010 and Rottnest Channel Swim in 2011.
One key to success is maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. I have a number of health issues and swimming provides me the opportunity to have a healthy lifestyle. It is also an amazing opportunity to develop life-long friendships throughout the world.
FAMILY: Parents, 1 brother (Spot) and 1 sister (Kate)
EDUCATION: Diploma in Sport
SWIMMING LOCATIONS: Bondi Beach, Ice Bergs (Bondi), Andrew Boy Charlton
SWIMMING HIGHLIGHTS: The amazing amount of support I have receive from my family, friends and workmates. They make the hard work worth every minute of it.
BIGGEST INFLUENCE: The people who have had the greatest influence on my swimming career to date are my parents – the first people to believe in my sporting potential.
SWIMMING IDOL: Danyon Loader (Double Olympic Gold Medalist 1996)
LONGEST CONTINUOUS SWIM: 20km, covered in 4 hours and 56 mins (Rottnest Channel Swim - 2011).
FAVOURITE PLACE I HAVE SWAM: Fiji. The coral and sealife is breathtaking and swimming with the Mantaray's was unforgetable.
COLDEST PLACE I HAVE SWAM: 16C, Bondi Beach - February 2009.
GOALS: Beachcomber Island Swim 2011, Gold Coast Half Marathon, and 1 more that is very close to my heart.
WHO MOTIVATES ME: Vlad. Training everyday throughout Summer and Winter is tough. I can't thank Vlad enough for his enthusiasm, energy and ability to always make everything seem so positive.
FAVOURITE - FOOD: Snakes, DRINK: Mojito, MUSIC: Anything, MOVIE: The Green Mile
FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION: Anywhere there is sun, sand, cocktails and warm water.
TOUGHEST COMPETITOR: Myself