Elderly couple completes 66th Midmar Mile
An 80-year-old swimming teacher swam her 66th Midmar Mile, joined by her husband. The loving pair crossed the finish line hand in hand.
AMANZIMTOTI swimming teacher Lynn Schroder’s dream had been to swim the Midmar Mile at the age of 80, and along with her husband, Lawrence Schroder (69), the pair successfully crossed the finish line for the 66th time, in their 46th year of Midmar swims.
Also read: From Amanzimtoti to Ivory Coast and back
The couple earned the accolade of the ‘married couple to have swum the most Midmar Miles together’, and at the prize-giving ceremony on February 8, were given special treatment by the event’s organisers for their dedication. Lynn runs her swimming school in Athlone Park, and also teaches water aerobics, while Lawrence has completed 12 Comrades Marathons and is a Springbok Rock and Surf angler.
Lynn’s daughter, Heather Cooke, who along with her husband, Richard, competed in the individual races on February 9, said, “Through my mum’s swimming school, Lawrence and her have brought many swimmers to the Midmar Mile, including their four children who have all swum the event multiple times. Their strength as a couple charmed spectators of the event as they crossed the finish line hand in hand once again.”
Also read: South Coast Sun 14 February 2025
Lynn told race organiser Wayne Ridden, “Lawrence has never left me behind, even though he could well have. He encourages me the whole way, I do lots of backstroke and he makes sure I don’t end up in Howick. He’s just the best husband. Swimming is so special to us.”
Fit as a fiddle at age 80, Lynn says that daily exercise, healthy eating and sleeping well – early to bed and early to rise – will keep you healthy, wealthy and wise.
“Most importantly, keep a positive approach to life and be as helpful and kind to others as possible. For first timers of the Midmar Mile, try to swim a qualifying event like the Capital K, which is also held in the Midmar. It’s held in the November of the year before the February Mile and will help you get used to open water swimming. In open water there is no resting or putting your feet down during the race as you won’t be able to touch the bottom of the Midmar Dam. Wear the safety floatation devices supplied by the organisation at least for your first swim. It is very different to swimming in a pool. Make sure that you can comfortably swim more than a mile in a pool, 64 laps of most school and gym pools,” said Lynn.
Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom at 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
