PARA sportswoman Pien Abrahams, 21, proudly completed the 2km event in the Coffs Coast Ocean Swims, swimming breaststroke and finishing with a time of 65.12.
Pien had been visiting her great aunt and uncle in Sawtell, Ton Huybregts and his wife Chris.
It was not only her first time in Australia, and her first swimming event in saltwater, it was also about overcoming the challenge of her physical disabilities with a trademark smile and determination.
When aged six-and-a-half, Pien was on the farm of a family friend in Germany when half of her body was crushed in a car accident.
“It was 2011, on the [horse] range [and] I had jumped over the bar connecting the car with the truck,” she told News Of The Area.
“The car moved, I fell over and was under the wheel of the trailer.”
The right side of her head was seriously injured.
“The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, that’s why my left side doesn’t work anymore.”
But “not working” doesn’t mean she cannot use it, as she proves daily.
Pien uses her right eye for everyday interactions and long distance, while her left eye handles close-up reading.
“In the hospital they tried to make them work together, but they couldn’t, so I just worked it out.”
Visiting her relatives with her grandmother Nel van den Borne, Pien heard about the Ocean Swims and the pair went off to The Jetty to have a dip and check out the location.
“It was my first proper swim in the sea, previously I had only paddled… and I decided to do the 600m event.”
However, after all her years in a pool, local lakes, and swimming for therapy in Germany, she has developed endurance.
“I have swum long distances before. I’ve done the 2km swim on Lake Neubrandenburg near home.
“My great aunt Truus Meulenbroeks (also from Sawtell) chose the 2km event, so I changed to that.”
“The Coffs Harbour ocean swim was an amazing and challenging experience.
“I felt quite exhausted, but I just kept going by telling myself I could do it.
“I was very grateful that Truus swam with me, as it made the experience more enjoyable and motivating.
“Completing the distance in open water gave me a great sense of achievement and confidence.
“It was also excellent training for my upcoming 2 km swim in Germany this July, helping me build both endurance and mental strength.”
Pien takes all the training in her stride.
“I don’t know any different,” she said, “I don’t remember anything from before the accident, so I don’t think I lost anything.
“I’m never sad and always try to see the positive points. A lot of good things came out of it.
“I got my own Therapy Dog in 2012, her name is July and she is my best friend.”
Pien wears a ring on her right hand with a little stone set into the gold band.
She explained, “That is one of the stones they took out of my brain after the accident.”
By Andrea FERRARI
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