Gene
Giraudeau
A South
African woman Gene Giraudeau has successfully completed a 36km swim between Koh
Tao and Koh Phangan, finishing in a time of 11 hours, 23 minutes, and is
believed to be the first person to swim between the two islands.
After
finishing the swim, Gene was very emotional.
“It’s
amazing that so many people have given up their time and offered their
expertise to make my dream come true. The support and messages that I received
on social media both in the run up to and during the swim were overwhelming and
really helped.”
Gene
completed the swim as a personal challenge, and also to raise money and
awareness of the issue of shark finning. She raised US$5,000.
“I’m
happy that I am able to bring awareness to the plight that sharks are facing
and have helped by raising money to aid their cause too,” Gene said.
A
former resident of Koh Tao and a keen swimmer, Gene swam the 23km around Koh
Tao in 2012 – her first long distance swim.
“I
decided to try long distance swimming in Thailand because the water temperature
is perfect. I don’t do very well in cold water, and swimming in Thailand lets
me try swim these crazy distances with awesome warm water,” Gene said before the
swim.
“I have
been living in South Korea for more than three years now. Shark fin soup is
still served at important family functions and occasions. Through this swim I
have managed to educate people about the cruelty of shark finning. Most Koreans
are oblivious to the decreasing shark populations and the impact it can have on
our ecosystems.
“Along
with Master Divers Koh Tao and Project Aware and their finathon campaign I am
swimming to stop finning.
“Shark
finning is the act where people catch sharks, cut off their fins and throw
their bodies back in the ocean where they are left to drown. As a result of
shark finning all over the world, tens of millions of sharks die in this
inhumane way,” she told The Phuket News.
Claire
Connell
by
ZwemZa on June 1st, 2014
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