Cairns local overcomes major setbacks to swim the English Channel

A Cairns swimmer has overcome major setbacks to take on one of the most coldest and most dangerous swims around the world.

Daryl Cygler during the English channel swim between the UK and France. Emma Khan Photography Ltd

A Cairns swimmer has overcome major setbacks to take on one of the most coldest and most dangerous swims around the world.

Daryl Cygler took on the English Channel after almost 18 months of training, smashing the 33.7km swim in under 12 hours.

The 53-year-old said he knew he was close to the 12 hour mark.

“I had set myself feed breaks and every three hours I gave myself a reward break as well,” Cygler said.

“So every three hours I would have a jam doughnut as a reward but also because you are not allowed to have a watch or know your time while you are doing it.

“We swim with pilots and medical guys to ensure you are okay and everything and they kept track of the time.

52-year-old Daryl Cygler will swim the English Channel in October. Picture: Jake Garland

Daryl Cygler during the English channel swim between the UK and France. Emma Khan Photography Ltd

“But I wanted to beat 12 hours and after the third I knew how long I had left.

“Then at the feed break at 11 hours and 15 minutes, I knew I was 45 minutes away from another jam doughnut.

“And with the time, they stop the clock once you are fully out of the water, so I just ran out to the beach and celebrated once I knew I was out.”

Cygler managed to beat the 12 hour mark, coming in at 11 hours 42 minutes, a long way off what he thought he was originally going to get when he was training for the swim last year.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the swimmer as he was originally meant to swim the channel in October 2023.

“We got to the two weeks and we were ready to go but with the weather and tide and everything, it kept getting pushed back,” Cygler said.

“And then in the end it got scrapped by the pilots, so we looked at it for this year.

“I was pretty disappointed when it did get scrapped because of how much I had trained and worked to get this done.

“But I would have to say what it has done for me is continue to train and train a lot more to make sure I am fitter than what I was.

“2024 Daryl would blow 2023 Daryl out of the water.”

Cygler will have his name in the record books forever, but it was the signing of his name in a pub in Dover which has him most happy about.

“There is a pub called The White Horse in Dover where swimmers can actually chuck their names up on the wall,” Cygler said.

“So it was pretty awesome to be able to do that, especially when you see how many names are up on the wall.”

Now looking to spend some time with his family after the swim, but Cygler is open to trying to beat his time.

“I think now I will give back the time to my family because they have done so much for me during this period,” Cygler said.

“But watch this space because people told me that once you do one of these swims, you get addicted.

“So who knows what might happen, but would be interesting so definitely watch this space for sure.”

Originally published as Cairns local overcomes major setbacks to swim the English Channel