By love-89.com In a recent interview, Xu Wen-er, who proudly completed an open water swim around Manhattan Island while draped in the national flag, reflected on her journey and her first major financial investment in pursuit of personal challenges. “When I swam in Manhattan twice, I had to pay for both attempts; it’s not like the second time was free,” she laughed, recalling her experiences of funding her dream to swim in the world’s three major open water venues—the English Channel, the Catalina Channel in California, and the waters around Manhattan.
After six months of self-financed preparation, Xu successfully accomplished her goal on October 21. She detailed how she managed everything from travel and accommodation to training and official certifications all on her own.
“When I reached that dock where the captain finally called it off, I felt pure joy. I was screaming and shouting with excitement, thinking, ‘Wow! I made it back!’ It was a moment of triumph, surpassing the goals I missed the day before and proving I’m stronger than my yesterday self,” she shared.
The evening prior to her latest swim, despite the setback, she returned to her temporary home in New Jersey after spending weeks adjusting to the chilly waters of the East Coast through training at distant Coney Island.
Xu highlighted the technical challenges involved in the swim, explaining, “It requires strong kayak navigation skills. I got stuck in a current for 45 minutes, and once I finally got out, I realized I had missed the tide, which meant I couldn’t continue swimming north toward Manhattan.”
After 45 minutes, with the iconic Manhattan skyline still in view and the Brooklyn Bridge nearby, Xu faced the grim reality of not completing her swim during her first attempt. With support from the New York Open Water Association, she decided to regroup, returned home to sleep, and prepare for the next day.
Looking back on the last two days of mental and financial challenges, she mentioned the significant costs involved. “Just booking a navigation boat along with all the necessary certifications with the association costs nearly NT$300,000. It’s important to be frugal; I paid for both attempts in Manhattan, after all!” she chuckled.
Reflecting on her experience, she said, “Watching the videos and photos makes me so happy. I can see our flag waving along the route around Manhattan. In many situations, we can’t display our flag, but this challenge was an exceptional occasion to showcase it.”
After concluding her New York swim, Xu is heading to London before returning to Taiwan next month. She emphasizes the need to jump back into her work, focusing on teaching and promoting open water swimming. “Taiwan is an island, yet many people are afraid of the water, like islanders turning their backs on the ocean. With proper risk management and public education, we can help people understand water safety and dangers,” she stressed.
Xu underlined the importance of the “blue economy,” noting how developed countries are ahead in this aspect and stating, “Taiwan has much to learn.” She expressed her excitement to showcase to the world that people in Taiwan engage in such sports, presenting a unique opportunity to shine a light on her homeland.