FEATURE
Race Record-Holders Swimming the 50 th anniversary aQuellé Midmar Mile ! Both Keri-anne Payne and Chad Ho have confirmed their
intention to participate in the 50th anniversary of the aQuellé Midmar Mile next month .
Keri-anne , to this day , remains the most decorated female swimmer in the famous race ’ s history , having taken the title on eight occasions , and also still holds the women ’ s record time of 17 minutes 33 seconds – which she swam in 2004 . Chad , meanwhile , has won the men ’ s race a record seven times and also holds the men ’ s record of 17 minutes , which he set in 2016 .
Keri-anne ’ s Successes
Keri-anne is now based in the UK and claimed a silver medal for the British team in the 10km marathon swim at the 2008 Olympic Games along with two world titles – in 2009 and 2011 , while Chad is a former world champion over 5km . Neither swimmer is planning to race competitively in the 2023 event , but the pair remain eager to be a part of such a significant milestone in the aQuellé Midmar Mile ’ s history .
“ For me , Midmar Mile is a huge part of my childhood , having done it with my family as a kid ,” said Keri-anne . “ I think I was there spectating before I was old enough to swim it – and it was always the swim that we would all go to , not just as a family but as a squad . It ’ s so big and so well run . It ’ s just a really fun place to be . I always have great memories of going to Midmar ,” she added .
Keri-anne recalls hearing her father and brother having a conversation about how they thought no swimmer could ever match Natasha Figge ’ s then-record of six victories at Midmar . “ I remember going : ‘ I will , I ’ m going to show you .’ It wasn ’ t my life ’ s legacy or anything but I do remember specifically going : ‘ Um , hello – I can do this .’ “ So having the opportunity to come back even though I ’ d moved to the UK was a really awesome opportunity for me and to break the record was just amazing . It really was .”
Chad , Looks Back
Chad is equally thrilled to still hold the men ’ s record . “ Back in 2016 I wasn ’ t too focused on breaking the record I was more focused on qualifying for the Rio Olympics so I think for me to break the record , it showed how everything just came together perfectly and that my training was going great . I was at peak fitness and we had ideal race conditions which is always a bonus ,” he explained .
“ I ’ m not too sure when it will be broken , but records are there to be broken and until it is broken it ’ s an honour and privilege to hold the record .” More than returning as the recordholder , however , Chad simply relishes the chance to be part of the event . “ For me personally I think what makes Midmar so special to me is that it ’ s always been a family event . It ’ s spending the day out together with a great atmosphere and just enjoying swimming and the event .”
Where are They Now
Both Chad and Keri-anne have retired from international competition but have confirmed they intend to take part in the 2023 aQuellé Midmar Mile .
“ I think my racing days are over ,” said Kerianne . “ I ’ m a mum now . I have a four-year-old and being able to actually get training in is really hard . That ’ s on top of the fact that I had an 18- year swimming career where I trained twice a day every day , doing 70,000m pretty much every week of my life , so if I ’ m honest the motivation at the moment isn ’ t there for me to train so that I can try and race it again . But hopefully I can come back and just enjoy the swim because I just love being part of the event .”
Chad added : “ Of course I will be swimming this year . It is the one swim I make sure I do some training for and with it being the 50th anniversary it makes it even more special .”
10 aQuellé Midmar Mile | Worlds Largest Open Water Swim