Another year, another mile for Amanzimtoti swimming couple

Toti’s Lawrence and Lynn Schroder, completed yet another Midmar Mile at the weekend.

The retired couple, who has been married for just on 40 years, has swum the Midmar Mile together for an incredible 42 years. For the last 20 years, but not including this year, they have swum twice in a weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday, which totals 62 successful swims together. As the biggest open water swimming race in the world, this year boasted over 12,000 swimmers, including many top swimmers from overseas.

“This was our best swim yet, with the fastest time of 48 minutes for quite a few years. I don’t think that we could possibly have enjoyed it more. It was sad when we reached the end so quickly, but caravanning there for the weekend made up for it.”

In recognition of their sterling efforts, the couple has joined the other 323 swimmers who have been inducted into the swim’s 20-year club.

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Lynn, who was a teacher Kingsway High School for many years, has taught swimming to adults and children since she was 17. Now 75-years-old, she has never missed a season, including the years when she was pregnant with their four children. All four children have swum many Midmar Miles from the tender age of seven.

“My teaching is to ensure that my pupils not only become proficient swimmers, but learn to love swimming for all their lives. Many of my past pupils continue to swim the Midmar Mile as adults.

“We believe in positive thinking and health and fitness. Lawrence has run 12 Comrades and we thoroughly enjoy the weekly parkrun on Toti Beach. I have completed the race 54 times and Lawrence almost as many, but misses some, as he is a keen competitive angler. We also love cycling and toured the Croatian Islands on bicycles last year.

“However, the Midmar Mile is the highlight of our sporting calendar and we would love to promote the exciting swimming weekend to other swimmers who have perhaps not yet taken part. It is extremely well organised and it is just wonderful to have the privilege of being a member of the Midmar swimmers fraternity.”

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