Champions of Change

Chris Oldnall and Peet Crowther completed the Triology Ocean Challenge with the third swim distance covering a distance of 66km. They talk to Birgitta Wasserfall about how this historic double False Bay crossing has raised significant funds and directly supports the South African Hall of Fame’s Legacy Project, empowering young South Africans through bursaries, mentorship, and development programs.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

In this Champions Uncovered podcast, Birgita Vassefeld talks to Pierre Crother and Chris Olnor about the final swim in the Trilogy Ocean Challenge.

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Pierce and Chris, so good to be interviewing you. I know I interviewed you individually before the swim, but now to do this interview together is really special. Welcome.

SPEAKER_02 0:21

Yeah, thanks. It's great being here. Yeah, it's great uh to see your face again.

SPEAKER_00 0:26

It's good to be talking to you guys because I've been following you as many as other people as well. I mean, there's been thousands of people been following your story, and finally we get to talk about this historic 66 kilometer crossing of False Bay that you completed in about 27 hours.

SPEAKER_02 0:45

Yes, yeah. We ran about, I think, 27 and a half hours. We still check that official time, but um, between 27 and 28 hours.

SPEAKER_01 0:54

This the certificate says 28 hours, 37 minutes to be okay.

SPEAKER_02 0:58

Well, there we go.

SPEAKER_01 0:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

That is quite something to be able to say that you have been able to do. And Piers, I want to ask you the first question. If we listen to the previous interviews, we know that it has been a two-year preparation journey. The big question is: has the outcome of the Trilogy Ocean Challenge met the expectation?

SPEAKER_02 1:22

Well, there's two aspects. There's our personal expectations, and then there is obviously the fundraising expectations. And starting with the fundraising expectations, definitely, I mean, we we don't have a specific benchmark. We need as much as we can get in. Um, the momentum with the last swim has definitely not surprised us, but we're very chuffed with the funds that are still coming in. Above the funds is the community that got involved, old boys community that was detached from the school now are coming back and and joining the programs and getting involved. And it was a solo attempt by the both of us, but it ended up being a whole team effort with the community supporting. So, yes, expectations surpassed. And then personally, I think Chris and myself, it's now a week after the swim. We're still processing it mentally. And I think that's going to go on for a couple of weeks just to actually realize what we went through.

SPEAKER_00 2:15

Yes, I'm so glad that you have been authentic in your answer and not going just for the external and that being the funds being raised and bringing it closer to home and saying from a personal point of view, the expectation has been met. Chris, for yourself, can you say the same?

SPEAKER_01 2:30

Yeah, I think I always say how it's it's different for me because I work at the school and I'm in a privileged position to actually, I think, firsthand see the impact. So for me, through these swims, a whole lot more has been achieved than I'd ever imagined. Just seeing the exposure we're getting now, the opportunity to speak about the program and the difference it's making in these boys' lives and ultimately families' lives, too, uh seeing how many people are getting involved. I never expected the number of old boys that we have uh had contacting us and driving the program. Uh, one of the individuals, Bruce Finn Vake, has been phenomenal. So uh for me, just taking a step back and looking at it all, I'm I'm really proud of how it's it's highlighted Pretoria Boys High School, the partnership that exists between us and the South African Hall of Fame and the impact that it's making. It's exactly what I dreamt, but it's surpassed what I dreamt. It would do some super chuff that it's got everyone excited about the school, the partnership, and most importantly, giving these boys an opportunity.

SPEAKER_00 3:23

I want to ask you the question for those that haven't followed the story about this trilogy ocean challenge that you and Chris have been embarking on, have actually completed. What was the cause for this big swim?

SPEAKER_02 3:37

Yeah, so it it started with a bit of a story between Chris and myself. I walked into Chris's office in the end of 2023 and we reconnected a bit, and that's where we talked about our involvement in the school and what we can do to draw attention. Chris was then starting to uh negotiate with the South African Hall of Fame, and the legacy project was on the cards, and we started swimming together, and that's where our story sort of developed from there, and eventually all ties came together, and we were swimming for this big cause. We grew personally with each other and personally into this project, and with each swim being completed, uh it grew more personal, and the cause became greater for us personally. So we were fully invested in this, took sacrifices out of our personal time and family, not that there's an issue, but we were willing to swim very far for this cause. And it means a lot to us. Uh, me from the outside, as an old boy, I'm not at the school every day. So being part of this and adding my little bit, even if it's just a swim, I'm very privileged to be part of it.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

Chris, for yourself, I'm sure you're so surprised to see the boys waiting for you at the airports when you returned back after completing the 66 kilometer swim. How special was it to have these young men waiting for you at the airports?

SPEAKER_01 4:57

Yeah, it was not expected at all just because of the time that we were landing. And I knew it was a Saturday sports fixture, so I thought the boys would all be, you know, preoccupied with their commitments. When I saw them as I exited after collecting my bag, I was quite overwhelmed, uh, as you can imagine. But um I just made my way over to each boy. I thank each boy individually. Each boy gave me a hug, which is pretty cool. And you know, they just congratulated me. And yeah, once again, I felt privileged that I meant that much to the boys who are able to come and collect me from the airport. Yeah, so a memory I'll cherish forever.

SPEAKER_00 5:30

Do you think what you and Pierce have done has impacted not only the young men that are on bursaries through the South African Hall of Fame and what the Boys High initiatives are doing? Do you think it's had a further impact with the other young men that are attending Pretoria Boys High School?

SPEAKER_01 5:50

Yeah, I think it's had a bigger impact than I ever realized. I mean, it's boys, it's parents. I've received a lot of WhatsApp from uh people within our community who I'm I've never met, but just sharing their story, their battle, and what the swim meant to them. And I have a couple of boys from Maritzburg College who've also reached out to me and said how impressed they are. Um so I think it it expands further than just the the boys at Boys High and not just the scholarship boys. Naturally, the boys that I teach were super proud. I have a little Mass Lit group. And when um when I was going through my phone, that Mass Lit group was going berserk. So, you know, they're boys that I just teach and they were saying how proud they are of me. Um and then naturally walking through the school and the corridors over the last couple of days, you know, just boys coming up to you and saying, So you're my hero. It's good to know that it meant so much to so many and that they feel so proud.

SPEAKER_00 6:37

And I'm sure also you are seeing that they can see that they can also break through barriers, they can cross boundaries for themselves on a personal note.

SPEAKER_01 6:46

Yeah, so I said it like especially some of the boys who swim who've come past my office or have come and said, like, yeah, so I just say to them, well, you swim 10 times better than me. So you must go and do it faster than Piet and I when you when you're ready. Because I know that it can be done a whole lot better than the way we did it, um, if Piet and I are honest. So like I just, yeah, exactly that. Turn the them congratulating me into something like, well, just imagine what you're capable of achieving, achieving with A, B, C, or D, just knowing the boys and knowing what their talents are. Uh so turning it into like uh an opportunity to make them think a little bit about what more they can do with their own lives.

SPEAKER_00 7:20

A 66 kilometer double crossing of False Bay is something that very few people are able to do. Pierre, leading up to those days, what were you thinking or what were you feeling and experiencing internally? I'm sure there were some things that you were thinking in terms of doubt or fear. Just want to know what you were experiencing because I noticed on Chris's socials, he became very serious, very quiet, very very different, Chris, before the swim. But for yourself, yeah, it's what were you experiencing? Because I saw for me, if I was just witnessing how you were engaging with Chris on socials, is you were very upbeat. Not that Chris wasn't, but you were the encourager between the two of you.

SPEAKER_02 8:08

Yeah, um it's it's quite interesting. You notice that um I'm I'm very quiet generally. Chris is more extroverted, but when it comes to pressure on these things, I love to fight it with humor, to bring in a bit of humor and joke around. And that I think you've seen on the socials. But to be perfectly honest, we were stressing, we were really concerned about the swim, so much so that we actually did a single crossing a month before this swim to sort of overprepare. And we realized, and we suffered a lot in that single crossing, but we realized we can't physically be trained enough for this, especially we have full-time jobs and families. We we would never get enough distance in training. So it ended up being a mental battle and keeping our mental state fit. So we uh work well with each other in keeping us intact, we check in with each other. So the days leading up to it, we talked every day, we shared notes, we shared mental plans, and we supported each other mentally to prep for this because we knew it was our minds that's going to get us through it at the end of the day. The closer we got to the swim, the humor sort of downed down a bit because we know it's D-Day. Uh, and I think the the previous night we had the last set of jokes, and the morning when we woke up, it was dead serious. Uh, Chris likes to play the brave heart theme song in the shower the morning before the swim. And it made us both cry uh in the car on the way to the swim. And then actually, a funny story, uh, just to end it all off, you know, the mental prepping as we put our ankles in the water. I looked at Chris in his eyes and I said, Chris, you know, this is actually a very bad idea. That was my last humor that I added, and he didn't laugh at all. He was actually very stressed. He looked me in the eyes. He said, No, you can't turn back now. And I said, Chris, it's just a joke. Let's start this swim. So, yeah, it ended up being a whole mental toughness that we had to forge the days leading up to the swim.

SPEAKER_00 10:00

Chris, can you add to that?

SPEAKER_01 10:02

I think the the relationship that exists between uh the two of us is really unique. And I think Pitt offers strength to me. And he's like you said, he's he's quite introverted. He's an experienced swimmer, he's someone I can lean on and someone I can trust. Um, I think what gets to me quite a bit is uh what goes on behind the scenes. So I think on the surface, everyone sees a wonderful relationship, everything's hunky-dory, these guys are raising money, but the pressure and the you know politics behind the scenes, which I only talk to Pierre about, um, you know, that is all stuff that I'm carrying deep within. And the pressure that I experience getting into the water, it's quite a lot to get your head around and to wrap your head around because I almost put myself under so much pressure to not fail because of what failure would mean. And that's where I lean on Piet and where I need I need Piet. And I guess his humor goes a long way. But deep inside, I'm I'm wrestling with a whole lot. I'll be dead honest with you.

SPEAKER_00 11:01

I love the authenticity and I appreciate the authenticity in both of your answers because the reason why I'm asking you these questions is we see two legends. When we hear this story, this is a legendary story that will be told for years to come after this, just from an impact point of view and also from a physical point of view. But there's people out there that are facing their own 66 kilometer double crossing in their own lives. Piotz, what encouragement can you give to that person that is facing what they are facing?

SPEAKER_02 11:37

Yeah, that's a good question. It's a broad question. I think each person facing their own false bay should visualize their situation. And I think the biggest thing is to be honest with yourself in accepting the challenge that you're facing and accepting your status in that challenge, whatever your situation is, accepting what your current status is, and then put your mind to where you want to be, one stroke at a time. That is as simple as it is. The task at hand and your big goals, it always should be there. But to be honest with yourself is the biggest thing, and then visualizing uh what your goals are. That is the simple approach. Technical approach is navigating through it and positive energy, gratitude uh was my theme for this swim. And I literally repeated the words gratefulness over and over until I drew energy from it. And in any situation that you are in, you are able to be grateful for anything, even the smallest things. And that's where you draw energy and grow from.

SPEAKER_00 12:36

Chris, for yourself, how would you answer that question?

SPEAKER_01 12:39

No, it's a it is a tough one. I've got to turn to my upbringing and my my father. My father's always just told me from when I was little like you're not allowed to give up, and you've always got to give of your best. Whenever I find myself facing a challenging time or a challenging situation, I'm just reminded of what my father told us as little boys. It also rings true to that underdog mentality. And I've often find myself being the underdog in life, and I feel I've overcome a number of uh things just because of that mindset. I know I make it sound so simple, maybe, but for me it is that simple. I'm I'm quite a determined and maybe a stubborn individual. So I'm always guided by the fact that I'm not allowed to give up because my father told me that's never been an option. And then, you know, second to that is that you've got to give your best. And there's always a way to find a way around a problem, you know, and to find a solution. And that's just what I use as my guiding light. And it's for me, it's the simpler it is, the easier it is for me to execute.

SPEAKER_00 13:37

Both Chris and Pierts have inspired many people, but there's somebody that is really inspired, in fact, inspired to action. How can they get involved?

SPEAKER_01 13:47

There's a couple of ways in which you can get involved, but I mean, for me, the obvious one is to actually just reach out to me and make contact uh with me directly. And then I love to sit down with these people who want a greater impact. You know, we have a cup of coffee, let's talk about what you want to do, maybe expose them to some of the boys. Maybe I can tell them a story about a boy who we've taken from grade eight to now is currently in grade 10. And we've got tangible examples now to show these individuals who want to invest in the program in the project because we've seen the growth of boys. I'm happy to sit down with anyone who wants to, you know, help us expand the project. We we know we want to grow it. I would ideally like to add another 30 boys to the program so that you know next year you've got close to 90 boys on the program, but I can't grow it unless you're gonna get you know financial backing from various corporates. I'll do whatever it takes to sit down with individuals and show them you know what they can do and how we can do it and guide them through the ropes and then sit down with the South African Hall of Fame and we can then discuss the nitty-gritty of uh channeling uh SED and BE spend. It starts with a relationship.

SPEAKER_00 14:46

It starts with a relationship because it's a long-term vision that Pretoria Boys High have in connection with the South African Hall of Fame. The vision, Pierce, where do you see this legacy project going and advancing?

SPEAKER_02 15:00

I can imagine it's being done across the country. The formula works, seeing those boys progressing, bringing their talents into the school, all the kids around them are motivated and it's just generally good for the school on and off the sport field and the investment in their own lives, they're gonna be good fathers to their kids and teaching them the ways that they've learned. So if we could get this done across the country in in all the schools, imagine it's endless of uh the amount of possibilities that can come, and that'll be a better South Africa.

SPEAKER_00 15:32

Chris, how can we get hold of you on socials?

SPEAKER_01 15:35

Yeah, so the the the bone hammer is where you can find me on Instagram, obviously, Facebook. Um there's uh Chris Altner, and I've got a LinkedIn profile now as well. But um, yeah, I think Instagram's the easiest one to uh contact me directly. Otherwise, my work email address if you go on to the Petro Boys Our website is is there as well.

SPEAKER_00 15:55

And the same for you, Pierce.

SPEAKER_02 15:57

Yes, you can find me on Instagram, The Crow is Crossing. The history of what we've done up to now is also there. And um, I love to share some insights mentally and physically what we go through on these swims. Um and I'll be documenting more of that to come, just to put it out there what it really took to accomplish this.

SPEAKER_00 16:15

Chris Aldenall and Pierce Crother, thank you so much for your time for this interview. As we've been following your journey, leg one, 33 kilometer single crossing of False Bay, leg two, a 53 kilometer solo swim from Robin Island to Dasson Island. And a week ago, a historic 66 kilometer double crossing of False Bay, completed in about 28 hours. Appreciate your time.

SPEAKER_02 16:41

Thank you for having us. Thank you very much, Begita. Appreciate the time.

SPEAKER_00 16:45

Champions Uncovered hopes you've gained some valuable insights and practical tools for you to use in your everyday life. Subscribe to this podcast channel so you can be notified for more Champions Uncovered podcasts.