He has never been one to sit still. From his days as a Springbok waterski champion, to his dynamo presence as MD of Boating World at the heart of the local boating sector, Derrick Levy has always been a man of action.
Some might nevertheless to be surprised that at 78-years-old he is currently in training for a 7.5km cold water swim – from Robben Island to Blouberg. Levy swims 3 km three times a week in a pool with coach and also cold offshore swims twice a week about 1km, a remarkable feat considering he had four stents inserted into his heart just six months ago. He has no intention of letting that cramp his style.
“For me, this swim is about testing myself,” he told SABBEX. “I’ve never been a strong swimmer, but I wanted to learn something new, push my limits, and prove to myself that I’m still in the game.”
Levy trains under the guidance of competitive swimmer coach Ayrton Sweeney. He is in the process of receiving his rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis in light of a recent spate of rabid seals – and seal attacks on humans. City of Cape Town coastal management has advised all ocean sports enthusiasts to be vigilant around seals due to an upsurge in seal attacks on swimmers, bathers and divers.