A university student from Sydney has become the first woman to complete what’s believed to be one of the world’s most challenging marathon swims.
Miu Tanaka, originally from Japan, spent 17 hours and eight minutes battling 58-kilometres of choppy waters and shoulder pain from New Norfolk to Bruny Island.
“I was relieved because I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it because my shoulder started playing up really early this time,” she told Pulse.
“I was quite worried the whole time. So I was just relieved and super glad I got there.”
Only one man has completed the swim before Tanaka.
Douglas Hughson is the president of the Derwent River Big Swim and said he had two people recently attempt the gruelling swim but didn’t make it to the end.
“This was a huge accomplishment from Mui,” he said.
“Even worldwide, this is huge. 58kms is amazing. She’s amazing.”
Tanaka moved to Sydney two years ago for university after spending most of her life in Hong Kong.
The 20-year-old returned to Tasmania after falling in love with the state’s waters after completing last year’s 34-kilometre Derwent River Big Swim from New Norfolk to the Tasman Bridge.
“It’s just so peaceful, especially the Derwent River,” Tanaka said.
“I love how there’s no light at all when you start. We start at midnight or pretty early in the morning, so it’s just you swimming under the stars.”
Despite concerns about cold water after hearing snow had fallen in the mountains the day before, Tanaka found the conditions surprisingly warm.
“My support crew was amazing,” she said.
“The swim really depended on how long I could stay happy and positive for, so I wouldn’t have been able to do without them.”
The swim was organised by the Derwent Big Swim Association, though it is not yet an official event.
Hughson said the reason why Tasmanian waters attracted long distance swimmers was because of the safe waters of the Derwent and the majority of the routes being close to the shoreline.
“I love helping people make their dreams come true,” the Lindisfarne local said.
Tanaka said it normally takes her a while for her achievements to sink in, especially something this significant.
“It takes me two weeks to actually realise what I’ve done,” she said.
She celebrated with dinner in New Norfolk and a trip to the Salamanca markets and is already planning her next Tasmanian swim.
