Sir John Kirwan arrives at St Heliers Bay after completing the Rangitoto Wharf to St Heliers Bay 4.6km swim on Sunday morning. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Sir John Kirwan arrives at St Heliers Bay after completing the Rangitoto Wharf to St Heliers Bay 4.6km swim on Sunday morning. Photo / Jason Oxenham
From the rugby field to the ocean, Sir John Kirwan, 53, has always found a way to make an impact.
Kirwan, one of New Zealand's favourite former All Blacks, played for the national team for a decade and still holds the New Zealand record for most first class rugby tries.
Since retiring from professional rugby, Kirwan has been actively involved in multiple New Zealand mental health awareness campaigns, opening up to the nation by sharing his personal story about battling depression. Through Westpac's regional tours, the former All Black has spoken to more than 25,000 New Zealanders about recognising the signs of mental illness.
Kirwan has since taken his desire to help and support New Zealanders to new depths by plunging back into the world of ocean swimming. He spent several years as a player and coach in Italy, where he not only met the love of his life, but was intrigued by the challenges of ocean swimming.
The Rugby World Cup winner first participated in an ocean swim race to raise money for friend Gian Carlo Volpato, who had suffered a serious back injury. Kirwan swam from the shoreline of Messina massa di lubrense to Capri Portofino each year to raise funds for Volpato.
Although driven by his desire to support a friend, the All Blacks legend said the raw emotions that came with ocean swimming kept him involved in the sport.
"It's a challenge that scares me a wee bit; it gets a bit of fear going, which I like," Kirwan told the Herald.
"It's a discipline that challenges you a wee bit, being out in the ocean, and swimming is pretty emotional, so you have to front a little bit of anxiety, and you've got to learn to breathe.''
Kirwan raced in ocean swimming events in Italy for six years, before returning to New Zealand via Japan in 2013.
As he searched for a new goal and purpose, Kirwan said seeing and hearing how often the Westpac Rescue Helicopter flew over his Mission Bay home sparked his next move.
Sir John Kirwan. Photo / Greg Bowker
Becoming a supporter and mental health ambassador for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust, Kirwan revealed plans this year to take part in the 20km Westpac Chopper Ocean Swim Challenge.
"I just felt like I would like to do something positive like ocean swimming, and raising awareness for the helicopter, and challenge myself a wee bit, so that's what I've decided to do.
"I just felt that I wanted to get back into it, and have a couple of goals.
"You also have to do a lot of training, which helps me stay fit, relatively fit, so it's a medium that I enjoy."
The Westpac Chopper Ocean Swim, which took place last Monday, raised money and awareness for the Auckland and Coromandel Westpac Rescue Helicopter service.
The gruelling ocean swim started at Waiheke Island's Matiatia Bay and finished at Judges Bay, in Auckland.
Earlier this month, Kirwan took part in the Rangitoto to Auckland ocean swim race as a warm-up to the big event, swimming 4.6km from Rangitoto Wharf to St Heliers Bay.
Kirwan admitted he needed help from others to prepare for this challenge.
"I felt I needed to have people that would get me to the gym or to the pool ... I know I need to go training with people that will meet me at the gym, so that I won't switch off the alarm and turn over."
"I know I'll let them down if I don't go, so the motivation's there, it's just that sometimes if I know there's no one there meeting me, it's easier to not turn up."
Kirwan said there were many mornings he mentally battled the temptation to press snooze on his alarm, rather than go to the pool for training, but knew the positive outcomes would far outweigh the small daily sacrifices.
"While it's pretty hard when the alarm goes off, it feels pretty good afterwards."
"It's important that I look after myself and stay fit mentally and physically, and so finding time for the training is important."
"You've just got to find time for it, and it's good to find time for things that keep you well, and this is one of them for me."
After months of training and discipline, Kirwan enjoyed the challenge of the Westpac Ocean Swim, but hasn't yet decided whether or not he would continue ocean swimming.
And although the future of the former All Black's ocean swimming endeavours remains unknown, one thing is certain: Kirwan will soon set himself another goal.
"I know that whatever it is afterwards, I'll have to find something else that has a goal. My goals are to understand me ... It's important for me to understand what my mind needs to stay fit and I know that those things are important for me to reach my goals," he said.
