Charlene and stars shine at Midmar

The world’s largest open water swimming event featured a star-studded line-up in KwaZulu-Natal at the weekend, including a soon-to-be princess, several Olympic swimmers, a "human polar bear" and an 87-year-old veteran.

Arguably, the biggest drawcard was Charlene Wittstock, once an Olympic swimmer, whose engagement to Prince Albert of Monaco did not deter her from her promise to Midmar race director Wayne Riddin to help raise Euros 60,000 for the Special Olympics.

“She called me after the engagement was announced and said: ’Wayne, I’m still coming to swim,’” Ridden told Sapa in Howick in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

This year marked his 20th year organising the swim at the Midmar dam.

It drew 16,000 swimmers, the youngest being five-years-old. The oldest woman to complete the race was 87.

Wittstock was among the first to swim, joining the disabled swimmers in the dam on Saturday morning.

Her hair tied back and wearing a golf shirt and slops, the unassuming princess later handed over medals to the top disabled swimmers.

“It was a very moving experience,” said Riddin. “The swimmers can go home and say they got their medals from a princess.” One of the recipients was 23-year-old Adri Visser, who finished second among the disabled women.

Visser, who was born without lower arms, finished the race in 36 minutes. Her secret? “I train hard and trust in God,” she said.

Visser and her co-swimmers drew applause from spectators and organisers.

Support staff on the swim included Olympic swimmer Penny Heyns, who was also tasked with interviewing winners and swimming celebrities.

The so-called human polar bear, Lewis Gordon Pugh joked that at about 24 DegC, the water was about 23DegC too warm for him after his swims at the North Pole and Mount Everest to raise awareness of environmental crises.

While he seemed blase about the swim, those concerned about safety would have been comforted by the thought that there were 140 lifeguards.

There was a worried pause in proceedings on Saturday when organisers asked friends or teammates of one of the swimmers to report whether they had seen him because his transponder had not registered him as finishing.

By Sunday there was no official news of him, but the swims went on with families and companies, double-milers and individuals.

Ridden hoped the attention Wittstock’s visit brought to the race would attract more international competitors for 2012.

Meanwhile, 87-year-old Lorna Cochran, the oldest woman to finish the race, set a new goal for all the younger people present.

“I want to be able to do that when I’m 87,” said one. “From your lips, to God’s ears,” replied her friend, as Cochran came out of the water, acknowledging the loud applause for her with an almost regal wave of her own.