CCN News
Cape Town:- 16-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Boy to Complete the 33 km False Bay Crossing.
Meinhardt Esterhuizen, a 16-year-old Grade 10 pupil from Paul Roos Gimnasium in Stellenbosch, has made history by becoming the youngest boy ever to successfully complete the challenging False Bay crossing, a 33 km (some sources say 35 km) cold-water swim across one of South Africa’s most demanding and shark-infested stretches of ocean.
The swim took place on Reconciliation Day (16 December 2025). Meinhardt started at Miller’s Point at 05:00 and finished at Rooiels after 9 hours and 52 minutes of continuous swimming.
He trained for 18 months for this feat, and he dedicated the swim to Prochorus, a non-profit organisation that supports youth in the community, while also aiming to inspire other young people to reach their full potential.
Meinhardt said after the swim:
“I swim far, so that they can go further.”
He also shared that during the crossing he thought it would be his last, but the very next morning he was already thinking about his next challenge.
The False Bay crossing is considered one of the toughest open-water swims in South Africa, often compared to the English Channel in terms of difficulty.
Congratulations to Meinhardt Esterhuizen, a true inspiration to many!
Pictures: Paul Roos Gymnasium Facebook
