Ethan pushes the limits for Castle to Castle swim

Everyone on the start line of this weekend's inaugural Jim O'Connor Memorial Castle to Castle swim, a 13.5km event from Rindoon Castle to Athlone Castle, is embarking on a major personal physical challenge. One of them, Athlone's Ethan Keogh, is pushing himself more than most, and in doing so is defying all the odds and proving an inspiration to many.

Born with muscular dystrophy, at the age of eight he was told by doctors that he would probably be in a wheelchair by the age of 12 due to its progressive nature. Like he has done throughout his life though, Ethan (24) pushed his physical limits to stay active, train and deal with any mobility challenges he faced along the way head on and keep going.

“I've been interested in water all my life, but over the last few years I've really found my gills,” he laughed on Friday as he looked forward to his first solo open water long distance swim with around 70 others on Saturday, August 26 after months of gruelling training.

At 16 or 17, he recalled that several procedures were suggested to improve his mobility, including splints and botox injections.

With no guarantee of improvement, however, Ethan opted not to go down that road. “I decided to stay with the devil I do know,” he smiled.

“I've been living with muscular dystrophy for the last 24 years and still get by. I've had a great interest in the gym and I'd consider myself fairly strong and I have a few bench records up there,” he said, pointing upwards to the gym in Athlone Regional Sports Centre (ARSC).

“Training under coach Dave (Warby) over the last few months, I've unlocked another skill, I'm quite a good swimmer,” Ethan, who now lives in Moate, said modestly, as his coach chipped in to say he's a very strong swimmer and if he was discovered sooner could have been a Paralympian.

“I'd consider myself one of the fastest in the lane coach programme aside from Wayne Reid or Robbie Powell, but I'd be very limited (on the turn) because I have limited leg mobility. I get lost on the turnovers (in the pool). Once we go into the open water I'm near enough the fastest person there. Essentially, I'm working at 50% capacity because I don't really use my legs to swim. It's all upper body.”

Always a fan of the water, he recalled learning to swim in ARSC when he came with his national school classmates in Summerhill, and spending summers swimming in Jim's Field or Coosan Point. He later did a PLC course and completed a lifeguard course before moving to the former AIT, now TUS, to study Sports Management where he refreshed his lifeguarding skills.

A member of ARSC for years, Ethan had tried a lot of different sports over the years from horse riding to rugby and football but discovering the ARSC water polo team four years ago proved a revelation by combining his love of swimming and gym strength. When, during the pandemic, the team couldn't train indoors, he tried some open water swimming sessions which piqued his interest. That was sparked further earlier this year, when his team mate Charlie Naughton, who is also a work colleague, suggested that he think about training for the inaugural charity swim.

“The biggest distance I would have done in open water prior to this training is about two to three kilometres with the water polo club,” he admitted, and while initially hesitant about the prospect, he decided to sign up and start a 16-week lane coach programme and credits Dave Warby for bringing him out of his shell and getting him used to swimming in the lake.

“Now my training has moved a lot further I'm covering the guts of ten kilometres a day out in Coosan Point. Hopefully, I can cover the 13 and half kilometres on the day when it comes. Dave has been there pushing me all the time. He knows how to get under my skin. He knows the words to say to motivate me,” Ethan, who has been working as a lifeguard and in the ARSC gym for almost two years now, added. He has since qualified as a swim teacher so he's now teaching kids to swim, just like he did all those years ago, something he really enjoys with great work colleagues.

Dave, his coach, described Ethan as very enthusiastic, who works hard and has great ability. “That really comes through when he goes to open water. He finds it difficult to turn because of his disability (in the pool) so there are a lot of swimmers faster than him in the pool, but when he went into open water he really has excelled. He's probably the fastest there,” praising his work ethic training five to six times a week to ensure he's prepared. Ethan doesn't let anything hold him back, underlined Dave.

Feeling stronger and healthier than he has in years, Ethan is looking forward to the day, and while there are a few nerves too; there is great resolve and determination ahead of the swim.

Asked what he thinks about as he completes around 100 strokes for every 100 metres of water, the Athlone native smiled broadly: “When I'm doing the open water swim, I'm literally talking to myself, planning my day or singing random songs in my head.. If I just keep a straight line and keep swimming I'll be alright. If it's going to take three hours or five hours I'm going to complete it regardless,” he vowed.

Read this article on the swim itself for more details