FOR the past 19 years Melanie Visagie has been training children from The Browns School to swim the Midmar Mile and she still enjoys every minute of it.

She said the children at Browns face academic challenges every day.

“Struggle and failure are often part of their reality, and many of them are used to being left out, especially when it comes to sport.”

Her journey with Midmar Mile began with an incredible woman named Lynn Schroder, who taught her son to swim.

“Through her, I was introduced to Midmar and quickly realised something powerful, this was something anyone who could swim could do with the right training.”

Also read: Principal swims her 47th Midmar Mile and finishes third in her age group

Visagie approached The Browns School principal at the time, Dave Smyth, and asked if she could use the school pool to train some children to swim the Midmar Mile, the world’s largest open water swim.

“He was on board and so it began. We chose the Midmar Mile for a very specific reason. You don’t have to win to succeed. As long as you finish, you earn a medal. It’s not about being the best of the best, it’s about challenging yourself, completing the mile, and then trying to better your own time.”

From the start, Visagie said she focused on children with special needs, because they are so often the ones left out when teams are chosen.

“This swim gives them something incredibly important, a sense of belonging, of being part of a team, and of being recognised. No matter what position they finish in, they receive a medal and a certificate, proof of what they have achieved.”

Visagie also takes part in the charity challenge and she said the reason she keeps going back is simple – it’s addictive. But my greatest inspiration has always been the children themselves. Life is not easy for them, yet they keep going. There is no “can’t” with these kids, and every single year they amaze me with what they achieve,” said a proud Visagie.

Training and commitment

Visagie and her team train three times a week.

“The children give up two break times during the week and commit to an hour-long training session every Saturday, where they must complete 80 laps of our 20m pool without stopping.”

This year, she has 20 children taking part, including former learners and siblings.

“There are also 17 parents; moms and dads swimming alongside their children. A full team of 37 swimmers, plus three absolute lunatics doing two swims in one day, mostly staying back to assist slower swimmers and encourage them across the dam.”

Since they started in 2007, the team has earned approximately 200 medals.

“After completing my first mile in 2002, I was hooked. Initially, I swam as an individual on Sundays. Then some friends from Johannesburg needed a third team member for the Saturday company swim, so suddenly I was swimming both Saturday and Sunday.

“That’s when the idea of getting the children involved began to grow. With the support of Dave Smyth, our first team of 15 swimmers trained and we absolutely aced it.”

What started small soon became a tradition, growing from 15 swimmers to 54 just before the Covid-19 pandemic.

“On Sundays, swimmers compete individually, but Saturdays are team swims. This allowed me to swim with the children, making sure they got safely across. And just like that a tradition was born.

“To date, I have completed 40 Midmar Miles myself and hope to add two more this year. I’ve also had two boat rides after staying back to help slower swimmers and missing the cut-off time.

Also read: Kloof gran to swim her 37th Midmar Mile

“Both of those children came back, conquered the mile and even beat the coach’s best time. The Midmar Mile teaches perseverance. If at first you don’t succeed, you try again and again. Once you start, it’s very hard to stop.”

As much as Visagie and her team love swimming the mile, she pointed out that it is costly.

“We would not be able to do this without the incredible support of MS Creations, who donated a stainless steel braai that we raffled to fund swimmers who couldn’t afford to participate.”

She also mentioned Firwood Sports Club, for allowing them to raffle the braai and supporting them generously.

“We wish to also thank Westville Girls’ High School for assisting with transport to the dam, Magnum Tools for donating funds to help cover swimming costs.

“Without these amazing people, this journey would not be possible for many of our swimmers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who makes this possible. Especially the children (who I always say make me look good), and the parents who trust me to take their children across the dam.”

And last but never least, Visagie thanked her husband, who supports her in all her ‘madness’, and stands at the finish holding her towel.

“He was eventually roped into doing the mile himself. He has now completed eight Midmar Miles of his own,” she said with a big smile.

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