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Kylie Grewal

2025 Summer Ocean Swim 1km

My Activity Tracking

26
kms

My target 1 kms

This swim meant everything!

Sunday 9th February 2025 marks the end of our CanToo journey…for now! 
Anna and I swam the North Bondi Ocean Classic today, a true 1km swim (unlike the Little Big Swim at Palm Beach the other week which felt a little bit of a let down at only 600m). 
It was a push to actually do it and get back in the water after my epic battle with the blue bottle (nicknamed Bloody Barry - please excuse any loved ones named Barry!) last weekend. I’ve had a week of pain, itchiness, uncomfortableness, emotions and anxiety getting through going back to work teaching Kindy, anaphylaxis training at work which triggered me the day after my suspected allergic reaction to the blue bottle, clothes and swimmers rubbing, trouble sleeping comfortably, An’s kids being sick,  unsympathetic GP visit and the thought of swimming again and what might happen if I get stung again. 
But back on the horse as they say. 

In true Anna and my style we arrived at Bondi super early (love that we are the same in that = no stress!)
Conditions looked awesome, only small waves and no bluies in sight. The CanToo team had me covered; coaches, mentors and even CEO, spoke with me and helped me get past the anxious tears that came at one point and make that first practice dive back in the water. The CanToo team talk came from a familiar voice, Mr Paul! The boys piano teacher!!! Couldn’t believe it. He’s been CanToo coaching for 10 years on the Bondi side. 
Then it was time. Honestly the swim was lovely. Clear water and once we got out near the first can, schools of little stripey zebra fish and yellow tails swam with us and under us. Quite magical and very calming. After we came around the first buoy we did come across some tiny translucent jellyfish and I had a moment of panic where I yanked up my swim top and paused. You can see the pause on the swim map. But then kept swimming. The distance felt good. I felt strong. We paused again half way around for a high 5 and I turned my thoughts to those in my world fighting cancer right now. I was grateful for Kate, a CanToo swim mentor who swam with us and kept checking in to see we were still going strong. Navigated a few sneaky waves  coming in before we crossed the line at 25.34 seconds. Not too shabby considering we weren’t racing. 
What a sense of accomplishment, relief and pride for all we have faced and overcome in these 14 weeks. Ocean swimmers we are! 
Now to ‘Keep Swimming’. 

Goal swim day dawns

Well that was fabulous! 
Goal swim done. Wasn’t quite a km so felt quick. But the swell kicked up just as we were meant to start. Getting out was tiring. But then the swim was enjoyable. High 5 with An half way round as planned and was thinking of those who are fighting a much bigger fight than me getting around some coloured ocean cans. 

Thanks to our coaches and mentors who helped us every step of the 12 week training program, every swim, every wave - so generous, kind, friendly and encouraging, especially when things felt tough. 

Thank you SOOO much all those who sponsored me. Appreciate you all. Update: just read that to date CanToo has raised $35 million for early career cancer research. You have contributed to that so THANK YOU. 

And thanks to our cheer squad who trekked out to Palm Beach to support us. My little cheer squad of boys from home never made it as we were all up with Elliot vomiting at 3am. Not the race prep we’d planned; now to have a nap this arvo. 

But when’s the next one? Bondi in 2 weeks?!

Battle with a blue bottle

Our last ocean swim training this morning had us swimming out across the Basin to have a peak around the headland into Bungan Beach. Really bumpy out there with a sizeable swell but was having a good swim. Until…I had a battle with a blue bottle which had the very cheek to float down my swimming cozzie top and sting me multiple times. I was fairly close into shore at the time and after a lot of flailing in the water to try and dislodge it I swam for shore and the hot shower that I knew would be my first aid port of call. An said she’d never seen me swim so fast! Ended up in the SLS first aid room hot shower for a good while being looked after by the most excellent and caring lifesavers but a mild allergic reaction had me vomiting and near fainting. Ended with a check over by an ambo who was happy to eventually send me home as not anaphylactic.

Home in a hot bath now with my 11 year butler on hand for my every whim and fancy. 

Talk about dramatic!

Training done. It’s time!

24/1
Last pool swim before our big goal swim completed last night. Another time trial (haven’t gotten faster but definitely gotten stronger, fitter and more confident) followed by drink and dinner at the pub. Having this Narrabeen pod to swim with has made all the difference. 
Last weekends’ final ocean swim training had to be cancelled because of the massive surf (and along the beaches the dodgy conditions - thanks fat burgs! Ew!) 

So we are as ready as we can be for the Little Big Swim this Sunday 26/1, 1km out around and back again at Palm Beach. My little support squad is coming to cheer Anna and I on and see us cross the finish line. So grateful for all the words of support, generous donations and kind well wishes who have made this little fitness project worthwhile. Well surpassed my fundraising goal - sitting at $1710, way past the goal of $1360. Will be swimming in memory of Rose and in support of Kate and Khan and Ross and Helen and Jeanette and all those currently touched by cancer. A little pause and prayer and a high 5 with An half way round me thinks!

Another milestone

11/1 Back to pool training on Thursday night. An easy 1500m! Wow. 

But another milestone at beach training at Mona Vale today.  Swam around the point from Mona Vale beach around to the Basin. 800m. A more continuous swim. This was my next big thing to achieve as it again felt too much. But during and afterwards I felt good. Not too puffed and not too anxious. First time swimming around a headland since I was a young adult when my lovely confident friend Cath and I would do crazy memorable things on our weekend campings trips down the south coast, like skinny dipping in bioluminescent water where the water trickled past our eyelashes like stardust. She taught me to surf and ride horses. We road tripped and camped and laughed so much. She also convinced me to swim around a headland on the south coast somewhere one time. I remember I only agreed if she would swim on the outside of me…so she would be eaten first! Some friend I was! Haha

Only 1 more ocean swim session to go. 
Almost the race day we’ve been training for. Australia Day Little Big Swim Palm Beach.

Manly to Shelly!

28/12 Big swim today. Have been nervous of this swim for ages. Too many oceans critters and seems so far. But with a few of us from our pod and with the encouragement of our lovely mentor Lisa and coach Nicky, we did it! 1.45km to Shelly and back. A few stops along the way to float and enjoy the serenity. And it did feel serene. I actually enjoyed it and was distracted seeing so many fish. Plus some little stingrays, a big groper with lovely blue eyelids and even a wobbegong shark waddling off along the ocean floor. Didn’t even freak out! Such an accomplishment for An and I. Feeling like we are going from strength to strength. And meeting some great people along the way. 

Sad news

My lovely new friend and swim training buddy Kate has had to pull out of our training half way towards our goal as she has just been diagnosed with cancer. Stinking bitch of a thing. 
We have even more reason to train, fundraise and swim hard now. For Kate. As well as for all those I know affected by cancer, who have lost someone, who are going through treatment right now. For you all. 

Met my fundraising goal and more!!!

17/12 Tipped past my fundraising goal with all the amazing support from friends, family members and colleagues. So amazed at what we can achieve, bit by bit, altogether. Thank you so so so much everybody who has donated and given their support.

Swim towards New Zealand

14/12 Just follow the board and swim towards New Zealand the coach said. We are heading into open water, out past the headland today. I actually teared up in panic a bit when I first heard that. But once we started swimming today, and with my swim buddy Anna at my side all the way, we just kept swimming, got into some kind of rhythm and made it. Felt almost enjoyable. 0.9km again. Almost full length and not even half way through training yet! 

Back in the ocean determined not to freak out!

7/12 After last week I was determined to push past my freak out moment in the ocean. Spoke up at pool training in our chat time about how difficult it was last week and the coaches and mentors were really great in giving advice and encouragement. This week conditions were good for surf training. Beach side at Mona Vale, rather than the Basin we have been in previously, so dealing with getting in and out through the surf. Lots of diving under waves, some quite massive sets, all so different seeing under the powerful waves with goggles on. 
I like the surf and grew up holidaying in and out of the waves so today was a good training day. Felt successful again. Plus they threw in a longer swim out past the breakers - took my time, breathed, counted my strokes and it felt a bit more enjoyable. Phew!

Pool time trial

5/12 Challenge week in the pool this week. 500m time trial to see where we are at and then will do another one later in the program to measure our progress 
11.40mins 
Not bad!
Felt good. 
Then we went to the pub!

I hate this…

These were my thoughts every stroke on our second circuit out last Sat morning. I’d just been wacked 3 times in quick succession in the head by a wayward swimmer next to me. Was tempted to turn around and swim straight back in…but was in the middle of the pack and worried I’d get hot more. So struggled around the course, dragged myself, had a little distressed cry, was comforted by my mate, and sat out the next circuit. 
But got back on the horse as they say for our final circuit. Hung at the back to give myself more space, slowed everything down and worked really hard on my breathing, which I’m really struggling with in the ocean. Was much better. 
And I’ll just keep swimming. 

First ocean training session

First ocean swim session - check
About 6 or 7 times going in and out of the ocean at Mona Vale Beach - going out through the waves and once I got my feet back down on the sand coming in not a problem. Just lacking the fitness to make swimming back in comfortable. Still a slight panic that I won’t make it. But pushing through it. 
Feeling exhausted already - check
Enjoying being brave and doing something new for me - check
Loving the support of a great mate doing it with me - check

Thank you to those who have already sponsored me to support cancer research. Nearly half way already!

First training session

Last night Anna and I braved our first training session. 1.5km of lap city at Narrabeen Academy of Sport pool. Met our ‘pod’ members, coaches and mentors. Felt so encouraged already and even was told I could be the poster girl for one of the swim drills. Phew! Can still swim well. Just fitness! Was worried about how my shoulders, neck and arms would pull up today but feeling ok. Next step - ocean training on Saturday morning. 

Quietly terrified!

I’ve signed up to do this thing…kickstart some exercise over summer despite being very unfit, get my joints moving so the inflammatory arthritis I have doesn’t hold me back, confront my quiet fear of ocean critters and commit to raising over a $1000. Quietly terrified indeed! 

But here I am. Signed up. Start pool swim training tonight. Ocean training on the weekend. All with my good mate Anna alongside me. In order to help support Cantoo’s  funding of early career cancer researchers and their projects. Because I lost a friend from choir to cancer this year.  And know many others fighting the many types of this insidious disease. Taking my health seriously and doing something for me, to make a difference in my life. 

So 14 weeks of swimming here I come. 26th January you’ll find me doing my first ocean swim - the Little Big Swim at Palm Beach. 

Please support me in my fundraising committment of $1360!


Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$1,760

My Goal

$1,360

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Thank you to my Sponsors

$100

Robyn B

All the best for the swim, Kylie and Anna. Fantastic goal. My donation is in memory of beautiful Rose.

$100

Caz

Good on you Kylie ❤️🌹❤️

$100

Anonymous

Go you!!!

$100

Viv

You will love this!

$100

Georgina Potts

You can do this ❤️😘

$80

Glynis Cochrane

This is such a great swim for you to do. Good luck with training. And keep visualizing Rose💜😊

$50

Deborah Maze

Such a fabulous thing to do, for yourself and for Cantoo research ❤️

$50

Khan-marie Crump

You go girl, you got this 💕

$50

Maria Carmody

Go Kylie! What a wonderful thing to do

$50

Lisa Carmody

Courageous Kylie- swim well my friend 👏💜

$50

Lisa Joy

You’re a super star Kylie

$50

Jeanette Treffery

Good luck Kylie

$50

Sara Scullin

You are a superstar and an inspiration Kyles xx

$50

Kieryn

Good luck!

$50

Lisa Atkinson

Love this Kylie! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

$50

Annie

Good on you! Hope you enjoy every moment x

$50

Cara Tobin

Love tjagg tv you’re not letting the terror hold you back. Great cause!

$50

Elisabeth Gray

$50

Damon, Megan & Ethan

What an achievement for a worthy cause

$50

Carlie

I hope you enjoy getting back into swimming! You have got this.

$30

Laura Stevens

You’re amazing! Very impressive start and excellent cause xx

$30

Bella Wakes-miller

You are amazing doing this( I know it’s way past your comfort zone. Happy to swim with you before January. Come and join me on one of my Cabbage Tree Bay snorkel/swims. Keep on swimming with Rose close to your heart. 💜

$30

Jane Yabsley

Great cause!!! Hopefully you develop a love of ocean swimming at the same time.

$30

Nicky Sandler

Go Kylie! You're an inspiration.

$25

Kris Mateika

You've Got This

$25

Janet Cater

Well done Kylie - I think you are very brave doing the ocean swim . Such a worthwhile cause and I think it wonderful that you feel motivated by the lovely Rose, she was brave .

$25

Wisecracker 2

Well done being brave and for a good cause Kyles! Cheering you on! 👏🏽

$25

Roz

$20

Amy Mcknight

Go Kyle's! Love your work!!

$20

Hattie Delaney

Good luck Kylie.

$20

Bec Sutherland

Amazing Kylie! So impressed and wishing you all the best in your training x

$20

Louise Shea

Well done.

$20

Sally From Alto2

Good luck Kylie! You’ve got this. The alto2s will be cheering and singing you on.

$20

Jesnette Horstead

You can do it❤️

$20

Helen Adamson

$20

Catherine Mackinnon

$20

Old School Pal Nat

Way to go Kylie!

$20

Kate Blows

What an admirable challenge and fabulous cause, well done Kylie xx

$10

Maureen Carr

Enjoy the swim and thank you for caring xx Mo

$10

Charlie G

Good luck on your big swim mum! Love you so much. Remember to have fun and try hard. You’ve done so much training for this big day so go out and do it! From Charlie

$10

Little Bud!

Love you mummy. Hope you have a great time and make it from the start and back. Your the best mummy in the world. Hope you have a fantastic day at your swimming. Hope you have a fun time. Hope you take your time and enjoy and try your best.

$10

Kristin Hellmrich

Good luck !!

$10

Glennes

Good luck Kylie!

$10

Bianca W

Good luck!