Olympic gold medallist and world champion swimmer
I used to be on a hectic work schedule and travelled a lot, so Bali’s warmth, ocean, and nature has been a great place to recharge and recalibrate.
Tell us your story – how did you get here?
After committing my early life to full-time swimming, my family decided to come to Bali for an extended holiday to recharge and regroup. 10 years on and I am still here and loving it.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’ve been fortunate enough to accomplish a lot of things during my swimming career which enabled me to develop and run a brand for over 10 years while supporting my family.
What impact have you made in Bali?
Water safety has always been important to me here in Bali. In a small way, I have raised the awareness of water safety here on the island, and built a small swimming community.
What does the future look like for you?
I recently launched my new Klimswim swim school at Finns Rec Club in Bali, so my year will be focussed on building awareness and ensuring that as many children have an opportunity to learn this life saving skill. I have also launched our first ever Invitational Swim event where the Indonesian National Team came to Bali to compete in races, and also gave the locals an opportunity to race too. This recently took place in April.
What do you love most about Bali?
I used to be on a hectic work schedule and travelled a lot, so Bali’s warmth, ocean, and nature has been a great place to recharge and recalibrate. I love Bali’s connection to its culture and tradition. On a personal note, I also met my partner, Michelle, here in Bali.
If you could excel at any other sport, what would it be and why?
My sport has become a skill and a practice that I tend to gravitate to on a regular basis as its meditative quality has served me well since retirement.
Who is your Local Legend and why?
Tai Graham, owner of The Lawn and Single Fin. He’s been able to encapsulate the island’s culture of surf, music and the people throughout all his projects. I believe he has put his staff and the Bali community as a priority.