LEON Cox, of Moorooduc, doesn’t shirk at challenges, so it was no surprise to his family when he announced he would complete a solo swim of the Rottnest Channel in Perth. The businessman and avid swimmer had already completed the swim 19 times as part of a team, so the solo trip was the next obvious step.
On the last Saturday of February Cox took eight hours and 24 minutes to swim the 19.7 kilometres – along with 2700 others who kicked off in groups every 10 minutes.
Cox said he had been thinking about the swim for 20 years, and decided to embark on the challenge the same year he turns 70.
He was supported by friend Jeff Barton, who has paddled a surf ski alongside him in 18 swims, and son Steven Cox, who paddled this time but has also completed the swim with his father on an earlier occasion.
Daughters Kristin and Hayley watched the live stream (Hayley from her home in America and Kristin in Mount Martha), with their families.
Cox’s wife Christine said her husband had a long-standing bet that if any of the grandchildren beat their grandfather, he has to give them $1000.
“So they are all very keen and vowing to beat each other to the prize … eight grandchildren from two to 13 years of age,” she said.
Born and raised in Perth, Cox has been swimming since he was five with his two brothers, whose father used to throw them into the Swan River with the jellyfish at 6am. The reward back then was breakfast with hot baked bread at Aunty Molly’s.
Swimming has since been an integral part of his life, keeping the businessman’s body and mind healthy.
A co-founder and 12-time participant in the 11 kilometre The Bloody Big Swim from Frankston to Mornington, Cox says the solo Rottnest swim was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done”.
Making it to shore on Saturday was a triumph, with many people wanting to congratulate him and shake his hand.
“It was an incredible, emotional moment to see him come up the beach after fighting off excruciating regular cramps in the first half, and then a very painful left shoulder in the second half – both of which slowed him down but never destroyed his will to succeed,” Christine said.
First published in the Mornington News – 7 March 2023
