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Keri Miller dives back into Midmar with family, fitness and heart in tow

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, News, SwimmingLeave a Comment on Keri Miller dives back into Midmar with family, fitness and heart in tow
By Adnaan Mohamed

Like a confident swimmer slipping into familiar waters, popular KwaZulu-Natal radio personality Keri Miller is set to make another splash at the 2026 aQuellé Midmar Mile, taking place from 5–8 February.

The co-founder of digital radio station PlayZN has confirmed she will line up in the family race on Saturday, combining strokes with sentiment as she swims her third Midmar Mile, while also serving as an ambassador for Mr Price Sport, one of the event’s key sponsors.

Miller won’t be navigating the Midmar waters solo. Instead, she’ll be buoyed by a strong family current, swimming alongside her sister, brother-in-law, niece and two nephews.

“As a family, last year was our first time swimming Midmar together and we absolutely loved it,” she said.

Her Midmar journey began almost by accident in 2024, sparked by an interview with race director Wayne Riddin and the lure of one of South Africa’s most iconic sporting keepsakes.

“It’s a really great towel,” she joked.

By 2025, the hook was firmly set.

“For the 2025 race, my sister had already entered her whole family and I thought, if [my niece] Charli-Rose can swim it at six, then nothing is stopping me. It felt like one of the best family days we could ever have together. Such a cool memory to make.”

Miller says the aQuellé Midmar Mile fits seamlessly with her philosophy of active, connected living.

“Considering I have a radio station called PlayZN, I’m a huge supporter of anything that gets us outside, off our phones and into our bodies. For anyone who’s had the privilege of learning to swim, this is one of the most satisfying things you can do. And everyone loves a medal. It’s such a celebration of how beautiful Midmar is.”

Her role as a Mr Price Sport ambassador adds another deeply personal layer to the experience.

“It’s a beautiful reminder that I’m in a strong, healthy body and that at 43 I can move happily and pain-free. Being able to represent a local brand in a local race feels special. I’m grateful and I hope to see more women my age shifting how they think about and treat their beautiful bodies.”

Preparation-wise, Miller is keeping her training balanced, mixing calm control with respect for Midmar’s unpredictable conditions.

“I’ll do some training with Nix O’Driscoll, who is a wonderful coach and will give me all the pointers, and then keep some sea swimming going because we know Midmar is not flat!”

Yet, for all the fitness and finish times, it’s the family moments that remain her emotional anchor.

“Spending time with Matt, Brad and Charli. Those three are everything to me… I just want to be present, cross that finish line together and get our family photo at the end. I get teary even thinking about it. I’m obsessed with those little humans.”

Reflecting on why the event continues to draw thousands into the water each year, Miller believes the magic lies in its accessibility.

“The sense of accomplishment at the end is huge and it’s so doable. You don’t have to be elite to compete. It’s the perfect race.”

Entries for the 2026 aQuellé Midmar Mile are now open, with early-bird entries closing on 21 December. More information is available at www.midmarmile.com

Chad le Clos Makes Waves With 8-Mile Midmar Mission for SA Water Safety

Adnaan MohamedSwimmingLeave a Comment on Chad le Clos Makes Waves With 8-Mile Midmar Mission for SA Water Safety

Chad le Clos is ready to trade the starting blocks for the wide-open waters of the aQuellé Midmar Mile, diving head-first into the gruelling 8-Mile Charity Challenge next February as he throws his weight behind swimmers fundraising for the Chad le Clos Foundation.

The 2012 Olympic champion has spent most of the past decade slicing through chlorinated lanes rather than the wind-ruffled Midmar Dam. But in 2026 he returns not just as a guest on the shoreline, but as a swimmer plunging back into the tide.

“I’m very excited. To be honest, I haven’t swum much at Midmar,” Le Clos admitted.

“I’ve always been there whenever I could… I’ve always supported the Midmar Mile long before my foundation was involved, but I just really love to be there. I think it’s a great day… from the Thursday through to the Sunday, it’s just a great weekend.”

A Champion Embracing the Current

Chad le Clos

Now 33, Le Clos said Midmar’s ever-growing wave of participation is what keeps pulling him back.

“I think what’s quite unique about Midmar is that it seems to grow every year, and the fact that it just gives everybody of all ages the opportunity to compete. You know, you can be in your 80s… it’s incredible. Swimming is a great sport for everybody.”

Fresh from a long layoff to recover from stubborn injuries, Le Clos is wading carefully back toward elite racing with the 2026 Commonwealth Games qualifiers as his first checkpoint. But before the competitive whirlpool resumes, Midmar offers a different kind of challenge—one that matters beyond medals.

“In terms of the foundation, it’s been a huge blessing to be a part of Midmar. Last year we raised a decent amount of money for charity, which is really, really great,” he said.

Swimming for Something Bigger

Founded in 2018, the Chad le Clos Foundation focuses on drowning-prevention programmes, water-safety education and pathways for young swimmers from disadvantaged communities. Its outreach ranges from introducing children to the water safely to supporting promising athletes with coaching and competition access.

And in 2026, Le Clos will be shoulder-to-shoulder in the dam with the very people swimming for his cause.

“For me personally, I’m really excited to swim the eight miles. I’m going to be doing a mile with each of the people who are swimming for my foundation,” he explained. “So I’ll be swimming a mile with each and just trying to lend my name and try to be the best I can, for the kids, to be honest.”

Like a seasoned marathoner pacing alongside novices, Le Clos will be both teammate and tide-breaker, helping charity swimmers navigate the long, choppy journey.

A Ripple Becoming a Wave

With the 8-Mile and 16-Mile Charity Challenge already raising millions for causes nationwide, organisers expect another year of deep-water generosity when the 53rd aQuellé Midmar Mile takes place from 5–8 February 2026. Charity events run on the first two days; the main races follow over the weekend.

Smith Strikes Gold as SA Swimmers Make Waves in World Cup Opener

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, News, SwimmingLeave a Comment on Smith Strikes Gold as SA Swimmers Make Waves in World Cup Opener

By Adnaan Mohamed

South Africa’s swimmers made a splash at the opening leg of the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Carmel, Indiana, surfacing with one gold and three bronze medals after three days of fierce racing.

The team finished 10th overall, but the ripples they created hinted at much deeper tides to come.

Leading the charge was 19-year-old Chris Smith, who powered through the men’s 50m breaststroke final like a torpedo, touching the wall in 25.75 seconds.

It was the fastest short course time in the world this year. He edged out the Netherlands’ Caspar Corbeau by a fingertip – a mere three hundredths of a second. Belarusian Ilya Shymanovich took bronze in 25.79.

For Smith, it was the first major international title of his career after years of circling the podium.

“I’m very proud of Chris, that he finally got it. He really deserved it this time,” said his longtime coach Michelle Vlasakova of the Alcatraz Swimming Club in Centurion.

“He’s been so close at the last two big international meets. We both believed he could do it, and I told him after the heats: ‘You can go so much faster.’”

Vlasakova credited Smith’s mental fortitude as his secret weapon beneath the waves.

“I think that’s what Chris is best at. He’s very mentally strong. When he puts his head to something, no one can tell him otherwise.”

Now, the pair are setting their sights on breaking Cameron van der Burgh’s national and continental records and riding this wave all the way to the Commonwealth Games and Olympics.

“If he keeps believing in the programme and the coaching,” Vlasakova said, “I think he’s unstoppable.”

Meanwhile, Rebecca Meder was also in buoyant form, scooping two bronze medals and shattering an African record. The 23-year-old clocked 2:18.14 for third in the women’s 200m breaststroke, just a splash behind Olympic champion Kate Douglass (2:13.97) and Germany’s Anna Elendt (2:17.80).

Rebecca Meder

She then stormed to another bronze in the 200m individual medley, rewriting her own African record with 2:05.56.

“I’m happy with the times I posted,” said Meder.

“Obviously, I always want more. I’m chasing those African records, especially in the 200 and 100 breaststroke. I’m just so grateful to race these girls and see how I progress through the series.”

Veteran Chad le Clos, the most decorated male in World Cup history, added another medal to his treasure chest. He claimed bronze in the 100m butterfly (49.57) behind Switzerland’s Noe Ponti and Canada’s Ilya Kharun.

Chad le Clos – 100m butterfly bronze

As the first leg wrapped, the South Africans left Carmel with their heads above water and spirits soaring.

With Smith heading home and Meder diving into the next leg in Westmont, Illinois where South Africa’s swimmers would be looking to continue the current of momentum.

 Photo credits: World Aquatics

Lara van Niekerk claims Golden Hat-trick

Adnaan MohamedNews, SwimmingLeave a Comment on Lara van Niekerk claims Golden Hat-trick

Adnaan Mohamed

Lara van Niekerk completed a golden hat-trick at the Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships on Sunday, powering through the 200m breaststroke like a swimmer rediscovering her tide.

The 22-year-old, already decorated with Commonwealth and World medals, clocked 2:24.81 to sweep the 50m, 100m, and 200m titles. It was a clean breaststroke sweep that signalled her resurgence.

“I enjoy the short-course 200 because it’s all about pull downs and you can keep your speed, so I really enjoyed that race … don’t tell my coach,” she laughed afterwards.

“The last 50 I had to dig deep, but it shows my fitness is back where it should be. Now it’s just sharpening the little technical things.”

Van Niekerk admitted the championships had been a confidence-restoring current:

“There’s not one race I’m upset about… fitness is there, stroke is where it should be. It’s looking good.”

On the men’s side, Oliva Lange paddled home with the 200m breaststroke crown in 2:12.11.

Elsewhere, Duné Coetzee added yet another gold to her treasure chest, outlasting rising 16-year-old Abigail Kotze in the women’s 200m butterfly.

Coetzee touched in 2:14.16, a fingertip ahead of Kotze’s 2:14.85.

“I felt awful this morning after the late 400 free, so I was nervous,” Coetzee admitted.

“But Abi really pushed me, and I didn’t think I’d go five seconds faster than the heat. Even when she beat me in the 100 fly, I was so proud of her – it’s great to have someone who keeps me racing.”

The men’s butterfly brought the upset of the meet, as Jarden Eaton surged from lane eight to steal gold in 1:59.50, ducking under the two-minute mark for the first time.

Jarden Eaton won gold in the men’s butterfly Photo’s: Swim SA

“I wasn’t expecting that,” he said.

“I just wanted a personal best… but building into that last 50, it all came together. I’m really happy.”

The distance titles capped the meet: Carli Antonopoulos cruised to the women’s 1500m freestyle in 17:01.33, while Matthew Caldwell completed a golden treble of his own, claiming the men’s 1500m in 15:28.11.

“It wasn’t as quick as I’d like, but after a long week of racing, I’ll take the win,” said Caldwell, already sighting next year’s Commonwealth Games like a swimmer eyeing the far wall.

SOURCE: SWIM SA