FEATURE
The year a teen queen beat all the boys at Midmar
As the aQuellé Midmar Mile heads for its 50th anniversary , there ’ s one swimmer who still holds a unique distinction . Patricia Butcher remains the only female swimmer to have beaten the entire men ’ s field in the race – a feat achieved when she was just 15 years old .
Lightning Speed
Patricia stormed to victory in the 1980 race in a time of 18 minutes 13 to claim her first Midmar Mile title . Not only had she taken 1 minute 15 seconds off the previous women ’ s record , but she was also 7.6 seconds under the men ’ s record at the time .
Patricia , who went on to become the first woman to claim three straight aQuellé Midmar Mile victories , was no stranger to securing swimming titles . She was at one stage the South African record holder in the 200 , 400 and 800m freestyle and won numerous national titles between 1980 and 1982 , also winning the Best Women ’ s Performance award at the South African National Championships for three years in a row .
After claiming her third Midmar Mile title in 1982 , Patricia never returned to the race , heading to the USA in 1983 on a full scholarship to North Carolina State University .
Where is she Now ?
Now 58 , she is still based in the USA – living in Boulder , Colorado and running an age group swim team , Flatiron Swimming , with her partner – former international swimmer and triathlete , Wolfgang Dittrich .
Looking back on her remarkable achievement in 1980 , Patricia said : “ I am very proud of that swim . I remember racing really hard that year . I also think I was fortunate that I took a really direct route that year too . “ Back in those days sighting your race was quite tricky . There were very few markers along the way . I remember sighting a large buoy / float close to the middle of the route and once I passed that marker , I would start sighting the finish ramp .”
Having started swimming the famous race at the age of 13 , Patricia has fond memories of the event , despite not having been back since 1982 . “ I loved swimming the Midmar Mile . My memories of swimming the race are some of my fondest memories of swimming growing up in South Africa .
“ I think what is also special about the Midmar Mile , is how it started off as just this really fun small local event ( decades before open water swimming became an Olympic event ) and has grown into one of the biggest open water swimming events in the world , drawing many top international swimmers .”
Coming Back !
Patricia will be traveling back to South Africa to be part of the 50th anniversary celebrations for the aQuellé Midmar Mile but will not be swimming the race . “ It is just incredible how this event has grown . I am in awe of what Wayne Riddin has done with this event . I would never have imagined such an event could grow so big , but I loved swimming the Midmar Mile and I guess many others do too ,” she said .
Speaking about her trip back to South Africa for the celebrations , Patricia added : “ I am most looking forward to seeing old swimming friends I have not seen in 40 years , some of whom are still swimming the event today . I ’ m also very curious to see how big this event has grown .”
8 aQuellé Midmar Mile | Worlds Largest Open Water Swim