After a gruelling journey just under 5000 kilometres in length, Freedom Rower Peet Botma has finished the World’s Toughest Row in a finish equally epic and emotional!
Antigua (29 January 2024) — It’s been a lifetime of experiences packed into weeks for Peet Botma, AKA the ‘Freedom Rower’ after he embarked on the World’s Toughest Row (a challenge true to its title). A solo adventure that saw 3000 daunting miles (just under 5000 kilometres) to mission, what began as a bold and extraordinary expression of humility in early December has finally come to its end after a big final push.
Yesterday, Peet arrived at the dockyard in Antigua where he was met with supporters and his family (for whom getting to Antigua was also a journey). This would be the first time he had seen people in 45 days, 22 hours and 57 minutes—the time it took him to compete in the World’s Toughest Row.
When Peet caught sight of the end and knew that his oar would finally be rested (at least for a while), he lit up the flare lights and held them proudly like his own Olympian flame.
The occasion saw him welcomed with cheers, and a special brand of South African support as a nearby yacht played South African songs.
What had been a dream for a decade was finally finished. What seemed unimaginable was now done and dusted. What seemed so hard out there on the Atlantic, now rested as a job well done.
“It’s incredible. It’s been a dream for so long, that’s sort of being realised today and it was very, very hard at times out there. I think this race, this row, this ocean really can take you to places physically, mentally, emotionally where you have never been before. When you think you were there yesterday, it just takes you there again tomorrow and onto a next level. I’m very happy, very satisfied, happy with the row..thank you.” —Peet Botma reflecting on the World’s Toughest row.
Peet signed up for the row for himself and for the underprivileged boys part of The Surf Lounge Academy. Hopefully, his larger-than-life effort will change not only his life for the better but theirs, too.
Sources: Peet Botma
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