To educate, entertain, and enthuse all those who venture beyond the shoreline
World Open Water Swimming Federation, a human-powered project
Olympic silver medalist Keri-Anne Payne won the aQuellé Midmar Mile in comfortable fashion after a very fast constant pace of 90 strokes per minute. “She is really getting in good shape,” said Mark Perry, coach of the British national open water team. “She’s been doing some of her best times in workout and is swimming […]
Keri-Anne Payne Wins The aQuellé Midmar Mile Going Away Read More »
Olympian Chad Ho is on a roll, both in his career and at the aQuellé Midmar Mile. After winning the 2010 FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup series, he overcame an untypical slow start and won the 2011 aQuellé Midmar Mile. After the 400-meter hot spot, Chad started to chip away at the lead and
Chad Ho Wins 2011 aQuellé Midmar Mile Read More »
The aQuellé Midmar Mile starts are something to see. Competitors are separated by age and gender and start in huge waves. The swimmers have qualification times that are compiled at official seeding events. Based on this pre-seeding and organization, the start has a military precision that is a credit to the hundreds of volunteers and
Thousands Line Up At The Start Read More »
Year after year a number of veterans keep coming back to the aQuellé Midmar Mile. An incredible 16 individuals have swum 30 or more races in the 37-year history of the event. These include: Mike Pengelly and Mike Arbuthnot – 37 straight years (100% participation in the history of the event). Gail Bristow and Martin
Mile After Mile After Mile, Year After Year After Year Read More »
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. The future Princess of Monaco Charlene Wittstock, a former Olympic swimmer for South Africa, handed out the awards to the disabled athletes at the aQuelle Midmar Mile, appropriately so as she is a major patron of the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics has added a 1.5K open water swim
A Special Swim With A Royal Finish Read More »
The scale of South Africa’s Midmar Mile is easy to see when busloads of school children from all over the country begin to descend on the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Thousands of students participate for their schools, all competing for participation prizes for their schools. With such a vast mixture of youth and adults in the
Busloads Of Swimmers Heading To The Midmar Mile Read More »
Kris Rutford – like Alison Streeter in the English Channel, Harry Huffaker in the Hawaiian Islands or John York in Catalina Channel – is one of those marathon swimmers who just cannot get enough. He has swum around Manhattan Island a total of 16 times – in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 , 1993, 1995,
Kris Rutford, A Man About Town Read More »
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Theodore Yach wrote an insightful description of his 35K Hout Bay to Robben Island swim in Cape Town, South Africa. In his own words, Theodore writes. “It’s the Pick n Pay for sharks” quipped Bob Skinstad when I was interviewed on his radio show in mid November 2010 when
False Starts and Dark Thoughts In Hout Bay Read More »
Olympic medalists David Davies and Cassandra Patten turned on the juice during the second half of the aQuelle Midmar Mile this morning in South Africa. Under overcast skies but benefitting from flat water amid the beautiful rolling green hills in the peaceful Midmar Dam, the two British Olympians showed they will again be a force
David Davies And Cassandra Patten Looking Good Read More »
The sheer size of the aQuelle Midmar Mile is mind-boggling. “We purchased our own timing system and turn buoys,” said race director Wayne Ridden. A little over 17,000 transponders are used. In the 10K race that was held today, the athletes worn the transponders on their wrists and touched the split timing mat to mark
How Big Is The Midmar Mile? 17,000+ Big Read More »