In one of the classic matchups in its 40-year history, world champions Keri-Anne Payne of Great Britain and Ashley Twichell of America went stroke-for-stroke in last year’s aQuellé Midmar Mile.
Payne got the upper hand in 2012 as she just beat Twichell up the ramp in the final run across the finish line in the world’s largest competitive open water swimming competitive.
“The Midmar Mile sets the bar in the open water swimming world,” commented Steven Munatones. “It has everything that a world-class open water swimming event should offer. It offers multiple races, it offers numerous divisions including age-group, family, corporate and disabled categories.
The Midmar Mile also offers the ultimate in a random prize – a free Toyota vehicle to one lucky swimmer. No detail goes untouched: the Midmar Mile has entertainment, safety, seeding events, aerial coverage, and most importantly a commitment to reinvest in the sport as its plows back its proceeds to develop swimmer and a passion for swimming.”
While 2012 was disappointing for both Payne and Twichell from an Olympic perspective, the two women came back from disappointment and continue to be much-appreciated ambassadors of the sport.
The pair mirror each other in remarkable ways.
They are both eloquent and comfortable in front of the camera, possessing a skill to clearly verbalize their passion for swimming and the sport in general. They both are strikingly photogenic and lithe models of hard work and sacrifice. They are both personable and are at ease talking shop with everyone from young age-group swimmers to octogenarian newbies in the sport. And they are both anchored with a fierce competitiveness buoyed with a strong sense of fair play and sportsmanship. They prefer to race and push the pace rather than force physicality upon their competitors.
It will be a classic one-mile battle, round 2, this Sunday at the aQuellé Midmar Mile. Shoulder-to-shoulder, Keri-Anne Payne and Ashley Twichell will stand tall among the field.
Copyright © 2013 by World Open Water Swimming Association