It was a case of mission accomplished for Curro Salt Rock teachers Debbie Smeda and Annedine Lugg at the Oceanman World Open Water Swimming Championships in Dubai at the weekend. Both finished among the top 20 in their respective age group categories.

Clocking a time of 57 minutes in the 2km sprint race on Saturday, Smeda finished 14th in her 40-59 age group, while Lugg finished 16th in the 30-39 5km event on Sunday with her time of 2:07:55.

The North Coast duo qualified for the championships in September by finishing among the top 10 in an open water swimming challenge in Durban. Their journey began just over a year ago when they decided to swim the Midmar Mile as part of Curro’s 10th anniversary celebrations. What began as a modest challenge turned into a life-changing passion for open-water swimming.

Smeda, Lugg and three colleagues – Ingrid Hoffman, Melanie Thiart and Meagen Smith – overcame self-doubt and inexperience while teaming up for the Midmar and are now affectionately dubbed “The Famous Five”. Together, they embraced rigorous training sessions, conquering their fears and cheering each other on.

In August, the Courier spoke to Smeda about her journey as a plus-size woman and how discovering a love for swimming helped her rediscover herself. She shared that, at first, she was self-conscious about her appearance in a swimsuit, but over time gained confidence, realising that it’s not about how she looks, but about doing what makes her happy. Her journey has since inspired other women to embrace their bodies and pursue healthy goals.

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