Cooper Cheshire has already made the record books as the youngest-ever competitor to complete a solo crossing in the Rottnest Channel Swim.
Now, the 15-year-old has been named among the iconic open-water swim’s elite Champions of the Channel field, making him the youngest swimmer to take on the 19.7-kilometre challenge alongside international champions, triathletes and Olympic medallists.
Cooper, whose training regime sees him swim up to 30 kilometres over five or six days a week in the pool, said completing a solo crossing had been a goal for a long time. This year, he’ll be happy if he crosses in less than five hours.
However, Cooper admitted that, until recently, the ocean was the last place he wanted to go for a swim.
“I was always scared, and then just leading up to Rottnest last year, I just really found love of it,” he said.
“It can be scary for beginners, but when you get into it, [and] learn that sharks aren’t as big of a fear … it’s really good.
“There’s no swim will ever be the same. You’ve got different conditions, different water temperatures every time, it’s really nice and refreshing.”
Swimming alongside Cooper this year will be Italians Gregorino Paltrinieri, Andrea Filadelli and Barbara Pozzobon, as well as last year’s Rottnest Channel Swim winners Max Coten and Bianca Monaco.
Coten crossed the channel in four hours, two minutes and 15 seconds last year, while Monaco was close behind with a time of four hours, 18 minutes and 57 seconds.
Paltrinieri, meanwhile, won gold in the 1500-metre freestyle at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, while Filadelli won last year’s Ibiza Open Water World Cup.
Paltrinieri said it was a “great honour” to be included in the Champions of the Channel, with the swim to mark his first open-water event over 10 kilometres.
Rottnest Channel Swim Association president Will Rollo said the competition was excited to welcome some of the best open-water swimmers in the world to take of WA’s best.
“Having the world’s best swimmers come to our event isn’t about replacing the talent we already have, it’s about highlighting just how strong WA swimming is,” he said.
“Rotto showcases Western Australia at its best, fit, healthy, active and absolutely beautiful and the depth of this year’s Champions of the Channel field reflects that perfectly.”
It’s not just bragging rights the Champions of the Channel are competing for: $27,000 in prize money is shared across the top three male and female finishers.
Monaco, who will enter the water on February 21 as the top-seeded swimmer in her category, said the international competitors helped drive the locals.
“That kind of depth lifts the standard and brings more attention to the race, which is really positive for WA swimmers,” she said.
“It also gives us the chance to test ourselves against a broader field without leaving home.”
The Rottnest Channel Swim is held on Saturday, February 21.
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