ABOUT a year ago, Debbie Smeda was unable to swim 25m but still rose to the occasion when the principal of the school where she teaches was looking for 50 swimmers to take on the aQuellé Midmar Mile.
Not only did she complete the swim in 48 minutes but she’s now training for the 2025 aQuellé Midmar Mile and is taking on the 8 Mile to raise funds for PinkDrive.
She said she chose this organisation as she believes that early detection saves lives, and she has set a target of R10 000 which she wishes to raise.
“I’m calling on the community of Durban North to support me in this cause and help me reach my target,” said Smeda.
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Speaking about her journey to swimming the aQuellé Midmar Mile, Smeda said she was not much of a swimmer at all.
“I took on the challenge that our principal, Joe Erasmus, had set out for the school, to get 50 swimmers to swim the aQuellé Midmar Mile. I had never swum a full 25m lap in my life. However, I thought, ‘Why not?’ I had nothing to lose,” she said.
Smeda said she recalls standing in her costume the first day of training feeling so self-conscious and uncertain.
“I could not even swim 25m that day. Can you believe I was that unfit?” she said with a laugh.
After regular training with the school team swimming, she began to build strength and endurance and completed her first aQuellé Midmar Mile in a time of 48 minutes.
“It was not easy, but I did it. We are a team of five where four of us completed the aQuellé Midmar Mile, and one teacher joined later. Now, we’re fondly known as the Famous Five by our principal. We knew that we had to keep going,” she added.
Since there was no stopping the Famous Five, they decided to tackle the Oceans 8 and set their goal to swim the 4 Mile Challenge.
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“Never in my life did I imagine that not only would I begin to love swimming but that I would build a bond with four unlikely women whom I call ‘My Tribe’. Annedine Lugg, Ingrid Hoffman, Melanie Thiart, Meagan Smith and myself are five teachers from different phases and walks of life who came together to support and inspire each other. I found purpose in swimming; I was not just a mom, wife and teacher anymore but was goal-driven,” said Smeda.
She said her joy now comes from inside as she was doing something that was just for her.
“The water was my happy place; it was still and quiet and made me a better version of myself,” she added.
During this training time, she swam the Durban Underwater Club and Dolphin Mile monthly league swims in the ocean to keep up her ocean training.
“In July this year, I was able to conquer Oceans 8, swimming the four miles with ease. This now leads me to the 2025 aQuellé Midmar Mile and taking on the 8 Mile swim for PinkDrive which is close to my heart. As women, we have to make time for ourselves to get these checks done,” she added.
Follow Smeda on Instagram: the_tide_within or visit https://kydrin.co.za/goals/1825 for more information.
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