Nonagenarian does it again
Lorna Cochran has broken the Midmar Mile record, as the oldest ever finisher of the event.
The 90-year-old, a resident at Eddy House, Methodist Homes for the Aged, in the CBD, completed the globally renowned open-water swim event at Midmar Dam, in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday, February 8, under clear blue skies.
Cochran, who turns 91 in July, was again supported by her family during her swim.
They swam beside her for the length of the race and encouraged her along the way.
She shaved about four minutes off her time of last year’s swim with a time of one hour, 16 minutes and 13 seconds.
“I felt a bit nervous at the start of the swim, but once we got into the water, which was a little bit nippy, we started warming up,” she said. “My attitude was to just swim, go on and do the best that I can.”
She added that, when she and the group were coming to the end of the swim, the tide was pushing quite hard and made it a bit tough to finish.
“We managed to get through to the end and I felt okay,” Cochran said.
“My recovery is generally very good despite me being a little bit off balance when I get out of the water – I usually have to hold someone’s hand just to regain my balance.”
Apart from her excellent achievement, the nonagenarian reserved special praise for the handicapped swimmers who participated in the first event on Saturday.
“Those swimmers are outstanding and their courage is absolutely fabulous,” she said.
She encouraged swimmers who want to take on the Midmar Mile in future to train hard and go for it.
“If you want to do it you can do it – make the best of what you have and use what you have been blessed with,” she said.
She praised her family for supporting her all the way and thanked the people of Benoni who have shown interest in her swim.
“I really appreciate their time and thoughtfulness,” she added.
Wayne Riddin, organiser of the Midmar Mile, praised Cochran for her achievement.
“I would be happy to organise the event again, just to have her swim,” he said.
“She is an amazing woman and we are very honoured that she and her family have chosen to support our event once again.”
