#138 Caleb Swanepoel - Shark attack survivor, athlete and motivational speaker

Sleep Eat Perform Repeat

Today we spoke with Caleb Swanepoel - Shark attack survivor, athlete and motivational speaker.
For this episode, we would like to raise awareness for www.WeThe15.org - sport’s biggest ever human rights movement to end discrimination. The aim is to transform the lives of the world’s 1.2 billion persons with disabilities, who represent 15% of the global population.

Caleb is a father, an inspiration and a resilient human being, living in Cape Town, South Africa. In June 2015 his right leg was amputated above the knee after he was attacked by a great white shark while bodysurfing in Buffalo Bay, South Africa. Caleb is keen to test himself on the Shakespeare circuit in London – but there are other opportunities. Since the shark attack, he’s gone back into the water many times, excelling at elite levels in surfing and swimming; he won his division in the International Surfing Association Adaptive Surfing Championships.

Today we talk about what his son has taught him, what did it change internally being a dad...seeing something that's a part of you, connected to you, and fresh perspectives. We speak about his mom running a school, and her driving force and love for teaching...no doubt a huge influence on the performing arts and drama studies now a part of Calebs' life.

We unpack living in the moment, be that swimming and training...trauma, fear of failure, connection and overcoming. Caleb talks to us about our capability as humans, what he does when angered and frustrated, and an attitude focusing on that there's not such a thing as bad weather, just bad gear - control what you can control!

The WeThe15 movement is discussed, as the shark attack (which he tells the story!) changed how he sees disability, a lived experience of differently-abled - 1.2 billion have some type of challenge - reflect on inclusion and equity!

What a chat!