Another successful Lake Argyle Swim for Royals team

After being cancelled last year due to COVID-19, the world-renowned Lake Argyle Swim returned for 2021 in a slightly different format. With travel restrictions still preventing international competitors from taking part in the race, it was an opportunity for the local Australian swimmers to shine with competitors from across the country making up the 123-team field of solo’s, duo teams and quad teams in the 10km and 20km distances on offer.

Situated 75 kilometres from Kununurra, Lake Argyle covers 980 square kilometres at normal water levels - 21 times bigger than Sydney Harbour. The race is not only an opportunity to compete, but a  chance to experience the wonder of WA’s incredible Kimberley region.

Royal Life Saving WA has entered a team in the swim each year since 2018, competing very successfully, and this year was no different! Our 2021 team consisted of Royal Life Saving General Manager Community Relations, Greg Tate, Board Member Vaughan Davies, 2016 Rio Olympian Grant Irvine and Assistant Director General of the Department of Communities, Paul Isaacson. The team not only won its division, the 10km Quads, but did so in a record time of 2 hours, 15 minutes and 12 seconds!

Greg Tate says the swim has become an important feature on the annual Royal Life Saving WA calendar. “It’s an important opportunity to support a local Kimberley community event, and to promote our Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pool program, funded by the Department of Communities and supported by BHP. The program makes a real impact in the Kimberley, with pools in five remote Aboriginal communities across the region, including Kalumburu, Fitzroy Crossing, Bidyadanga, Warmun and Balgo.”

Our swimmers were also ably assisted by our support crew, with Kalumburu Pool Manager Ryan Ingley and Kalumburu Lifeguard Kimberley French making sure everything ran smoothly. Kimberley is a young Aboriginal girl from Kalumburu who has been working at the pool throughout the recent season after completing her Pool Lifeguard training through our Talent Pool program.

The swim was followed by an amazing Gala Dinner which was hosted by MC Peter Rowsthorn and saw more than 700 swimmers, skippers and paddlers attend to witness the award presentations. We'd like to congratulate all our team members and volunteers for their fantastic efforts, and we look forward to seeing all that is to come for the 2022 Lake Argyle Swim!