The aQuellé Midmar Mile will celebrate two extraordinary feats of endurance in 2026 when Jill “Quix” Quicke and George Watson line up for their 50th swim at the world’s largest open-water event.
Quicke’s association with the iconic KwaZulu-Natal race stretches back to 1975, when she became one of the first women to compete officially. Just nine years old at the time, the Pietermaritzburg swimmer was already part of a changing chapter in Midmar Mile history.
“My parents said they thought I was good enough to swim the Midmar Mile. My dad took me up to the dam, as my mom was too nervous, in case I never came out the other side,” Quicke recalled.
“The entire girls’ race was about 150 people. We all started together and you had as long as you liked to get across. I think I took 47 minutes.”
Growing up in Pietermaritzburg meant Midmar became a constant on her sporting calendar. She swam every year from primary school through to matric, achieving a best finish of 14th in a competitive field with a time of 21 minutes.
Although university commitments and provincial indoor hockey caused her to miss a handful of editions, Quicke returned to the dam with renewed resolve, often pushing through significant physical setbacks.
“Since completing my degree, I have done the swim consistently just to keep my total ticking over,” she said.
“In 2016 and 2017 I did the 8 Mile Challenge for the Save the Rhino fund. I swam one year after being in hospital the day before with a kidney stone and one year where I was on crutches following a big knee operation.”
In recent seasons, the Midmar Mile has become a family affair.
“In 2019, I swam with my nine-year-old niece, Derryn Millward, for her first time. Since 2019 my niece, my sister, Mary Millward and I have swum together most years, and we are going to try and keep together for the big one this year.”
Now based in Johannesburg, Quicke says the significance of reaching 50 swims has taken time to register.
“I am finding it hard to believe it is my 50th swim as I don’t feel that old, but I am aware that nowadays I have to put in a bit of training to ensure that I can get across,” she said.
“I think other people are more impressed with the milestone than I am, but it is a good feeling to think about the achievement.”
Watson’s Midmar Mile journey began in 1976, a year he describes as pivotal.
“A special year for three reasons,” he said. “Firstly, it’s the year I got married, started a new job in finance and swam my first Midmar.”
Now 77, Watson says consistency rather than times was always the objective.
“My goal was not to miss Midmar for as long as I was able.”
Despite that mindset, he recalls one standout performance.
“The year I did my best time, I started late and still managed a 22-minute swim. It was somewhere around 1982/3.”
He has also experienced the race in extreme conditions.
“There was a huge storm in 1978 and waves of at least 2ft. A water polo friend gave up after swallowing half the dam,” Watson recalled.
For Watson, Midmar remains as much about community as competition.
“I made a lot of friends through swimming and water polo, and Midmar was the one place I was sure to connect with them.”
As he approaches his 50th swim, he has no plans to stop.
“I have no particular goal but will swim for as long as I can manage.”
The 2026 aQuellé Midmar Mile takes place from 5 to 8 February. While online entries have closed, late entries will be accepted at Midmar Dam on race days, subject to availability.