Olympic Champ Set for Midmar Return

Pre-season entries for next year’s aQuellé Midmar Mile are now open, with special rates on offer until the end of this month.

The 53rd edition of the world’s largest open water swimming event will take place from 7-8 February 2026 at the iconic Midmar Dam in KwaZulu-Natal, with organisers expecting between 12,000 and 14,000 entries over the fun-filled weekend.

Catering to all age groups and levels of ability, the event draws a range of swimmers each year, from wide-eyed newcomers to Olympic champions.

One such champion who has confirmed she’ll be back at Midmar Dam next February is open water superstar Sharon van Rouwendaal. The Dutch swimmer stormed to gold in the 10km marathon swim at the Paris Olympics last year before calling time on her remarkable career, which has also included Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and three open water world titles.

The aQuellé Midmar Mile captured Van Rouwendaal’s heart from the first time she swam – and won – the race in 2023.

“The Midmar Mile is more than just a race: it’s a celebration of open water swimming, community, and passion,” said Van Rouwendaal.

“There’s something truly special about it. It’s not just the race itself, but the people, the spirit, and the sense of belonging. Every time I come back, I feel the energy of a community that truly loves open water swimming. Midmar has a place in my heart, and that’s why I’ll always return. It feels like home.”

That sense of community has seen swimmers returning to the aQuellé Midmar Mile every year without fail, with KZN stalwart Mike Pengelly having completed all 52 editions of the race.

Numerous swimmers will be targeting their 20th swims this year, to join an elite group of around 500 swimmers to have achieved that feat, while two swimmers could potentially reach their 50th swims this year.

In addition to the personal achievements, millions of rands are also raised each year for charitable causes, making the event even more meaningful.

Those looking to make the most of the discounted entry fees should head to midmarmile.com to enter before 31 August 2025.