John Procope had the nation gripped yesterday as they followed him on Facebook live, on GPS, and through very vibrant Whatsapp groups as he swam from Tobago to Trinidad unassisted. For nearly 24 hours Procope paced himself through the waters, but never fully touched land because of rough seas and poor lighting on shore. Nevertheless, the swim was a success, and even if he is not the first to do it he considers himself proud of his achievement. In a video on Facebook, he's asked if he'd do it again, to which he responded with an emphatic, no!
"It takes a good swimmer to accomplish what 51-year-old John Procope did on Thursday," said his sister, Rebecca Procope. Johnny, as he is known, comes from a family of swimmers, and she was overjoyed to see him achieve his goal of swimming from Tobago to Trinidad against rough waters.
Just two days before, he had told her about his plans and wanted her there, but the swim was rescheduled to Thursday.
A "Trini to the bone," Johnny lives in Tobago with his close friend, Daymor, a German national and fellow swimmer. Rebecca fully supports him and is proud of his commitment to developing young swimmers and protecting the environment. He runs a swimming school in Tobago, where he is beloved by the youth.
Johnny attempted this swim from Tobago to Trinidad twice before but was thwarted by strong currents. However, he remained resilient with a positive attitude, never giving up until he succeeded. His successful swim on Thursday is a testament to this determination, his sister said.
Johnny's love for water began early, as they frequently visited rivers, beaches, and pools with family and friends. "I swim too, but not as well as he does. We all learned from our parents, but Johnny kept pursuing it."
"We are all proud of his remarkable achievement and provided him with moral support throughout."
Johnny started his swim from Scarborough, Tobago, around 8:30 pm. He was trailed by a boat the entire time to ensure his safety.
He is one of the few ever to complete the challenging journey from Tobago to San Souci, Trinidad, in 28 hours, covering about 60 km.
This marks a significant milestone in his life, Rebecca said.
"Everything happens for a reason. I planned to visit Tobago for the weekend, and now I have the chance to celebrate his achievement with family and friends."
