Seidler hosts first open water Dash

Record holder and Olympic swimmer Phillip Seidler, 25, has announced an upcoming open water Swim Dash. The event will be hosted in Swakopmund on 19 December at the renowned Mole beach.

The Swim Dash is aimed at getting every swimmer involved, introducing a variety of categories.

The solo category will cater to the brave and will present a challenge to swimmers. The two-team swim is a relay, with each having to complete one kilometre. The four-team swim will have four partners swimming 500 metres each, which then adds up to 2 kilometres.

An additional category will bring fun and excitement cater to all swimmers and non-swimmers.

“The main goal of the event is to motivate and encourage the upcoming generation of athletes to strive for greatness in their respective sports,” Seidler said.

The Swim Dash will collaborate with the Swakopmund Academy Beach Volleyball, for a beach volleyball event at the same venue, making the whole event even more significant and appealing to different people with varied interests.

He shares his dream and vision with his co-founder and brother, Daniel Seidler, to promote open water swimming and sports in Namibia. They aim to overcome the lack of events by organizing an exciting and professionally executed swim event that caters to swimmers of all levels.

Seidler recently won gold at the African Beach Games in Tunisia. He says winning takes a lot more than just racing.

“It takes a lot of preparation, which many people don’t see. It takes a strong team to achieve the best result.

“I believe I had the best support from my team which consisted of my brother who is my coach and manager; Suzelle Pronk, my physio, and the team of Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC),” he says.

His autobiography

He intends releasing a book titled “Swimming Thousands of Miles Upstream” towards the end of the year.

The autobiography tells a deeply inspiring story that not only aims to touch the hearts of Namibians, but also resonates with individuals worldwide. It chronicles the journey of a young Namibian who was raised in Swakopmund and trained by his mother, as he relentlessly pursued his ultimate dream of competing in the Olympic Games. The book is crafted in such a way that readers from all walks of life, whether athletes or professionals in the business world, can find personal connections to the challenges, triumphs, and perseverance portrayed within its pages.