From Wales to the Gold Coast – inspirational octogenarian pushes through cancer challenges to compete in PPMG ocean swim
At 81 years young, John Bennett could easily be forgiven for putting his feet up and relaxing into later life, but instead the inspirational Penarth, Wales (UK) head swimming coach is bound for the Gold Coast to compete in the ocean swim at the 2026 Pan Pacific Masters Games.
The octogenarian’s road to the games has been anything but easy. In recent years he has endured two types of cancer and is now confronting a third diagnosis, facing chemotherapy and all its debilitating side effects with incredible determination.
The chemotherapy is ‘nasty’ John admitted but he’s decided that the whole regime will not control him …
“Whilst my oncologists have taken great pains to explain the after-effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the reality has been something else! Intense fatigue, loss of appetite, serious stiffness in joints and muscles and the occasional onset of nausea has found me at my most vulnerable.”
“The human body is a fantastic piece of machinery and the only thing stopping me, is me. I continue to learn that even at my tender age if you push your boundaries, it’s surprising what can be achieved.”
Determined is an understatement. John’s training for the 2.5km ocean swim is currently undertaken in the 50m pool in Cardiff, the capital of Wales where he clocks up an average of 12km per week. He occasionally braves a wetsuit to swim in the sea off Penarth but readily admits that the cold water is not his best friend.
He’ll be making the long trek down under on his own but says he wouldn’t be surprised if he runs into fellow ocean swimming competitors he’s met at other events including the Solent Crossing between mainland England and the Isle of Wight, the Barbados Open Water Festival and the Nevis to St Kitts cross channel swim in the Caribbean.
John will fly into Melbourne to reunite with Sarah James, a swimmer he once coached in the UK before the pair make their way to the Gold Coast to compete in the Ocean Swim on Sunday 15 November at Mermaid Beach.
