What does it take to push past your limits and take on the world’s toughest open-water swims? In this episode of Swimming the Strait, I sit down with Caitlin O’Reilly, who—at the time of our conversation—was on her journey to completing the Ocean’s Seven, one of the most grueling endurance challenges in open-water swimming.

Since then, she has made history as the youngest person ever to complete it. We talk about the mental and physical battles, the resilience needed to keep going, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. From brutal currents to freezing waters, Caitlin’s story is all about grit, determination, and the pursuit of something bigger than yourself.