South African open water swimmers Ryan Stramrood and Tracey Steyn have made history. They became the first skins swimmers to complete the prestigious Cape Triple Crown challenge.

Steyn also achieved a groundbreaking milestone as the first female swimmer to accomplish this feat. The pair completed their final swim on Tuesday, under challenging conditions.

The Cape Triple Crown represents a world-class open water challenge. It comprises three demanding swims across Cape Town’s waters.

The challenge includes the Double Robben Island Crossing covering 14.8 kilometres. Swimmers must also complete the 33-kilometre False Bay Crossing. The final component is the 10.2-kilometre Three Capes Swim.

The Three Capes Swim began at 7:00 on Tuesday morning in 12-degree water temperatures. Conditions improved to 18 degrees once swimmers rounded Cape Point into False Bay.

Cape Point presented notorious strong and dangerous currents throughout the swim. The misty conditions added extra difficulty for both athletes. Despite these challenges, Stramrood and Steyn persevered successfully.

“The Cape Triple Crown represents everything special about swimming in the Cape,” said Steyn. She serves as Chair of the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association (CLDSA).

Stramrood expressed his delight at achieving the first male skins category completion. He congratulated Steyn for her historic female achievement in the same category.

The challenge was originally conceptualised by Derrick Frazer of Big Bay Events. The CLDSA later refined the format to ensure safety and international compliance.

Earlier this year, Graeme King became the first male wetsuit swimmer to complete the challenge.

The Cape Long Distance Swimming Association ratified the achievement under international marathon swimming standards. Expert guidance came from Frazer and the Big Bay Events team throughout.

This accomplishment establishes a significant milestone for Cape Town’s long-distance swimming community. The achievement also strengthens Cape Town’s reputation as a world-class destination for endurance swimming.

The success is expected to inspire more athletes and attract international interest.