Barbara Pellick: I Reckon I Could Swim Back

Barbara Pellick: I Reckon I Could Swim Back

As a child, Barbara Pellick stood on Cottesloe Beach looking out towards Rottnest and wondered whether anyone could swim that far. Years later, after completing her first solo Rottnest crossing, she found herself standing on the beach at Rottnest thinking something even more ambitious:

"I reckon I could swim back."

In this episode of The Science & Art of Open Water Swimming, Barb reflects on a lifetime in the water, from discovering open water swimming in Bunbury to completing 30 solo Rottnest Channel crossings, becoming the first woman to complete a Rottnest double crossing, and going on to become the first Western Australian to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.

Along the way, we discuss:

• How a relatively late start led to a lifetime of marathon swimming
• The story behind her first solo Rottnest crossing and the decision to swim back
• What it was like attempting a Rottnest double crossing in 1994
• The lessons learned from the English Channel, Manhattan Island, and Catalina Channel
• Completing more than 50 marathon swims without a DNF
• Why mindset matters more than most swimmers realise
• The joy of coaching and helping others achieve goals they once thought impossible
• Taking on the challenge of ice swimming and completing the Extreme Ice Mile

Throughout the conversation, Barb reflects on persistence, self-belief, embracing challenge, and the importance of finding your own reason why.

Whether you're training for your first open water swim or your next major challenge, Barb's story is a reminder that remarkable achievements often begin with a simple idea:

"I reckon I could swim back."

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This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.