THE RACE
Marvellous Midmar
The 47 th edition of the world’s largest open water swim is here, and it’s time for well over 10,000 swimmers to get ready
to dive in to the famous waters of the Midmar Dam and complete their Midmar crossing on 8 or 9 February.
W
hether you’re an Olympic or international
athlete, or a purely recreational swimmer,
your entry into the 2020 aQuelle Midmar
Mile means that you’re going to be part of another
chapter in the rich history of this incredible event, and
race director Wayne Riddin and his organising team
are ready to put on another bumper event.
The world’s largest open water swim consists of eight
events, four of which are held on Saturday, with the
other four being held on Sunday. Keep in mind that
to handle the vast number of competitors, you will
swim out in five groups at three-minute intervals in
the eight separate mile races over two days, with your
qualifying time used to assign you to a specific start
group. The fastest group will leave first.
While all the essential info you need to know is
contained in this official race digi-mag, start getting
your mind ready for your 2020 Midmar swim by
looking back at some of the fascinating stats and
facts of this much-loved and world famous event.
also the only race in the
event’s history. It was
est entrants, 153 , in the
few
the
d
ture
fea
4
Mile in 197
1. The first Midmar
women.
no men’s
t didn’t officially include
from 1975. There was
history of the event tha
only allowed to enter
because women were
4
197
in
ner
e.
win
rac
n’s
me
n of their
2. There was no wo
ns led to the cancellatio
gerous weather conditio
0 in 1994 and 7500 in
winner in 2007 after dan
sed 2500 in 1980, 500
pas
n
the
time,
first
the
for
0
100
for the first time
ped
mar Mile’s entries top
15,000-mark was topped
3. In 1977, the Mid
figures were broken. The
five
as
ts
ran
ent
000
e 11,
1997. In 1998, there wer
mming
largest open water swi
in 2003.
World Records as the
ognised by Guinness
rec
ly
cial
offi
was
Mile
mar
4. In 2009, the Mid
rs that year.
re were 13,755 finishe
event in the world. The
4.
event was 17,332 in 200
the
of
in the 45-year history
the Midmar Mile, with
5. The biggest field
mmer in the history of
swi
ale
the most successful fem
is
9 to 1995, scoring
ne
198
Pay
ne
from
d
i-An
ate
Ker
rn
t undefe
6. Johannesburg-bo
zera (nee Figge) wen
Pan
a
ash
Nat
5.
201
n 2004 and
eight victories betwee
sion.
en wins in succession
six victories in succes
d Ho, who recorded sev
ory of the event is Cha
hist
the
in
er
mm
swi
sful male
7. The most succes
6.
utes and 13 seconds
between 2010 and 201
winning time of 18 min
e in 1980, her remarkable
rac
en’s
finally equalled when
wom
only
the
was
won
r
d – and
8. When Pat Butche
mar Mile, men include
Mid
the
of
ory
hist
the
e ever in
was then the fastest tim
men’s race in 1989!
Payne
ted the same time in the
In 2004, Kerry-Anne
Andrew O’Flaherty pos
by Chad Ho in 2016.
Mile is 17 minutes flat
r
ma
Mid
the
for
ed
yet record
9. The fastest time
33 seconds.
time of 17 minutes and
Midmar Mile officially
set the fastest women’s
man to have swum the
Arbuthnot , is the only
”
thy
“Bu
e
nt a week early,
Mik
eve
nt,
the
eve
m
the
swa
of
n
rs
asio
10. One of the founde
46 years, but on one occ
’s
not
uth
Arb
Zealand on race
ed
tch
New
hips in
ly has ma
s Lifesaving Champions
each year. Mike Pengel
ca in the World Master
Afri
th
Sou
g
ntin
rese
because he was rep
n to women.
part in every race ope
weekend.
woman to have taken
only
the
is
dit,
cre
her
Saint
45 Midmar Miles to
in open events, when
11. Gail Bristow , with
l to win one of the ma
side of KwaZulu-Nata
racing to victory
out
by
from
hold
er
ngle
mm
stra
swi
a
e’s
for
t provinc
12. It took until 1989
annesburg broke the hos
rew O’Flaherty of Joh
Stithians’ schoolboy And
8.
the men’s race in 199
in the men’s race.
g Hoffman, who won
in 2001 as
Mile was Germany’s Jor
r
Mile
r
ma
ma
Mid
Mid
the
the
of
ner
ign win
rseas when she won
13. The first ever fore
female winner from ove
gary became the first
Diana Hegedus of Hun
2.
eated her success in 200
rathon and the
a 15-year-old. She rep
lts in the Comrades Ma
the best combined resu
by
ined
erm
det
3.
ry,
200
to
Biathlon catego
e victories from 1995
14. In the Iron Man
nishing nine consecutiv
Dyer claimed an asto
of the race in 1975 and
ner
win
e
Midmar Mile, Russell
-tim
two
first
Wayne Riddin , was the
,
athlete with
Mile
r
ma
Mid
rd
the
of
(This awa goes to the
aniser
n titles in succession.
15. The long-time org
Ma
Iron
five
won
.)
he
mar Mile
1990 to 1994,
oe Marathon and Mid
1976. Years later, from
es Marathon, Dusi Can
n’s
of results in the Comrad
in Cable holds the me
Col
.
old
rs
the best combination
yea
91
n in 2015, when she was
hra
Coc
na
Lor
was
r
finisher eve
16. The oldest female
, which he set in 1999.
re years.
record at 89 years of age
e competed in 20 or mo
4, 325 swimmers hav
197
in
m
swu
first
e to pay to
r Mile was
ber and no longer hav
17. Since the Midma
cated a permanent num
th Midmar Mile, they are allo
reach their 25
18. Once swimmers
events.
take part in their primary
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