Morgan swims Pier to Pub with her number-four bub
MORGAN Lacey couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about.
Emerging from the water and hustling up the beach, the mother of three was carrying an unmissable extra load.
“I’m 37 weeks’ pregnant,” Morgan proudly declared, moments after crossing the finishing line at Lorne’s Pier to Pub.
“I’m nearly there. This is my 25th swim in a row and I couldn’t bail out.”
Potentially just three weeks away from giving birth to her fourth child, Morgan had completed the famous 1.2km race. And it wasn’t the first time.
“I had a swim last night with friends as well — it’s a bit of a tradition — and that was nice,” Morgan said.
“We had a handicap swim — we call it the Jessica Schipper Medal — and then we all swim again today (Saturday). It was an easier swim today with the tide out.”
Earning a deserved round of warm applause as she made her way up Lorne’s main beach, Morgan took a moment to soak it all in.
And when the media gathered to uncover the story behind the ‘supermum’, the Camberwell resident revealed it never crossed her mind to withdraw from the race.
“No. Not at all,” Morgan said.
“We can swim right up until we have the baby, and I’ve done a lot of swimming. It doesn’t affect you too much.
“I say it’s like a flotation device. It’s not hard to swim.
“(I didn’t feel the baby), but I try to stay out of the mix. But it’s not too bad at all.”
Morgan, 36, even sought approval from her family doctor before taking the plunge.
“He’s quite encouraging,” she said.
“My obstetrician gave me the tick of approval. He said ‘Get in and have a go’.
“He reckons I could go through brick walls.
“He’s not too about me.” worried
Remarkably, it’s not the first time Morgan has completed the swim while pregnant.
“My first was born in March, so I was heavily pregnant with him,” Morgan said of firstborn child William.
“When he was born, I was trying to get his name down as having done a swim and I’ll do the same for this one.”
Morgan continues a long held tradition in Lorne, following in the footsteps of her late father, Paul, an originator of the world’s largest open water swim.
“He was one of the founding people and there’s a trophy in his name, so I started swimming when I was involved with the surf club back then,” Morgan said.
“I was 11 when I did my first and I just happened to not miss any for a long time and now I feel as though I can’t (ever miss another one).
“It’s a great tradition and I catch up with the same people each year. It’s a great thing to be part of.
“As long as I’m able, I’ll be swimming the Pier to Pub.”