Blind Paralympian Jeremy McClure completes incredible swim from Dirk Hartog Island to Denham in Shark Bay

A Paralympian who is legally blind has completed an incredible feat of strength that’s believed to have never been attempted before. Jeremy McClure was greeted by “hundreds” of cheering spectators as he arrived on the beach after swimming from Dirk Hartog Island to Denham on Saturday. “People were cheering,” McClure said. “I could hear them for the last hundred metres. “It was extremely heartwarming how many people there were, I thought maybe there would be a few people but it felt like it was most of the town. “It was so supportive.” His team clocked the swim at 36km and he completed it in just over 12 hours and 20 minutes, swimming with kayakers holding an electrified “shark shield”, swimmers, and a support crew on three boats. McClure, who swam for Australia at Athens, Beijing, London and Rio, has completed many other open water feats including two double crossings of the Rottnest Channel. He said the Shark Bay Swim was comparable but its own unique experience. “I would say it’s probably on par with two Rottnest double crossings I’ve accomplished,” he said. “On an experience level, the fact that nobody’s achieved this or, as I’m aware, attempted it before ... it’s uncharted waters for a swimmer.” The team completed the swim much more quickly than they expected, a fact McClure put down to feeling good and having good conditions. With currents and wind conditions unknown, they had planned for a 15 to 16-hour slog. McClure said the biggest challenge was nausea due to swimming in a horizontal position for so long, but he was able to take down food and liquids in the water and go hard in the good conditions. “Anybody can achieve anything,” he said. “If they set their mind to a goal and something means enough to them, even if there’s obstacles or tricky things in the way, it’s extremely achievable.”