By Josie Adnitt via SWNS
A former Paralympian is hoping to become the first blind person to swim the English Channel.
Gerrard Gosens, 54, a retired triathlete, has been training twice a day for two years and sets off on the 21 miles from Dover to France in the coming days.
The Aussie is set to battle against the current while carrying the flag of his nation – which he’ll hand over to his daughter Taylor Anne Gosens, 26, in Paris after landing in Cape Gris-Nez.
Taylor, who has 4% vision, will take the flag with her to the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where she will compete in Judo at the end of the month.
The window for his Channel swim runs from Saturday (10) until Friday (16); he will set off one day in that window, depending on weather and conditions.
He’s no stranger to challenges – and has already competed in Dancing with the Stars, and climbed Everest.
Professional chocolatier Gerrard is a B1 or T11 athlete – meaning he has no light perception and is unable to recognize shapes.
Gerrard, from Brisbane, Australia, will swim with six support members, and reckons it will take him approximately 16 to 18 hours.
A three time Paralympian, he took on the swimming challenge to keep him busy in his sporting retirement.
He said: “Taking the flag across the English Channel and being with my teammates and their honor and their pride, will give the Paralympic team the chance to see anything is possible.
“Delivering the flag before the games will give them the chance to know what it means to be Australian – despite challenges we’re still willing to get out there and give it a go.
“I’d been retired from triathlon for five hours then someone mentioned to me there had never been totally blind person to swim the English Channel – I thought about it for a few minutes then thought why not.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity to raise funds for charity and break down perceptions about someone who is totally blind.”
Gerrard, who was born blind, will be attached to his support team using an International Paralympic Committee-approved tether which he designed for himself and other blind swimmers, which allows all swimmers to move freely.
Now in the UK ahead of their swim window next week Gerrard and support swimmers Philip Edwards, Hayden Armstrong, Rosie Ning, Jo Smallacombe, Alexis Tannock, and Dr Sarah Brereton have been acclimatizing to British weather conditions.
“I’m attached by the thigh so we can pull through with the stroke – each of the guys have particular strengths so I’ll be using those as we go,” he said.
“They’ve been with me training for this for two years, so they’ve also had to go through the 13-14 degrees swim qualifier, going through choppy waves to cold mornings and being on poolside in eight degrees in the winter.
“From a training perspective the most enjoyable thing has been my team – we have a great cohesive team that gets on well and works well together, they understand and trust one another.”
Despite all his sporting challenges he says the hardest challenge he’s ever taken on in his life is being the first blind competitor on Dancing With the Stars – but says both challenges are about breaking down barriers and changing opinions.
“The swim window starts Saturday and then we’ll have better idea of when D-day happens,” said Gerrard.
“Like chocolate, there’s no one recipe – we use the ingredients we have, and those ingredients may change as we swim the channel.
“In essence really, it’s totally about teamwork and seeing big picture – there’s nothing better than serving your country proud.”
He is raising money for charity Great Dreams who offer financial support to young, disadvantaged people to help them follow their dreams.
For more information and to donate to Gerrard’s fundraiser, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/channellingthegreatdream
Gerrard competed in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics in goal ball, in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics running in three events – the 5000m, 10000m and Marathon – and in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics running in the 1500m.
When Taylor competes in the Paris games next week, the pair will be the first father-daughter duo to compete in the games.
