Alwyn Uys became the first paraplegic in the world to swim from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo: Nelis Engelbrecht)
Thirty-year-old paraplegic athlete, Alwyn Uys is known as a trailblazer in his field. In June 2019, he became the first paraplegic South African to complete a half Ironman, and earlier this year, he went on to become the first male para-athlete in the world to do the virtual Comrades in a racing wheelchair, on 14 June.
On 11 December, Uys braved the swells of Table Bay and took on the 7,687m swim from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand, becoming the first paraplegic athlete to successfully complete the crossing.