Diving in from distant shores

TWO hundred swimmers have tackled waterways of all shapes and sizes to prepare for today’s Green Island Reef Swim – from the mighty Murray to calm Copenhagen.

Danish triathlete Charlotte Libach booked passage to the Far North especially for the 2018 Cairns Airport Adventure Festival and will take the plunge off Green Island this morning.

“It was a long trip,” Ms Libach said. “I’m not a professional but I hope to be standing on the podium.”

Check-in for the 1.5km and 3km Green Island swim opened yesterday.

“I’m a little worried about crocodiles. The wind and water here are pretty big compared to Denmark,” Ms Libach said.

“Copenhagen was just named the best city to swim in – it’s a great place to train.

“We have stingers but they are not dangerous, just creepy.”

Victorian Courtney Gronow swam the Murray River to LONG TRIP: Charlotte Libach has come from Denmark. train for the Green Island event. He was not worried about any reptilian competitors in today’s races.

“If you aren’t the one at the back of field you’ll be right,” he said.

The Green Island swim kicks off a weekend of Ironman events in Cairns, including the Cairns Airport Ironman and Ironman 70.3 races on Sunday.

The Airport Ironman is sold out with more than 3500 registered competitors.

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