Mike Arbuthnot Goes 42 For 42
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. The 42nd edition of the aQuellé Midmar Mile got underway at Midmar Dam on Saturday morning. With tens of thousands of swimmers and spectators, volunteers and vendors making their way down to the water’s edge, it was like a giant open water swimming family reunion amid broad smiles, fist pumps, hugs and handshakes.
Race one of the aQuellé Midmar Mile in South Africa included Ironman and Ironwoman, disabled swimmers, and those 71 years and older. They all swam on Day One of the world’s largest competitive open water swimmer as did 92-year-old Lorna Cochran and 82-year-old race founder Mike Arbuthnot.
Arbuthnot’s successful completion of his 42nd Midmar Mile (out of 42 editions held) continued.
“The fact that I’m the only one to have done all of the Midmar Miles definitely is an incentive for me to keep going while I can. My training was fair this year, but the swim ended up going very well for me so I’m quite pleased.”
Photo courtesy of Gameplan Media shows Mike Arbuthnot being congratulated by race director Wayne Riddin after completing his 40th swim in the aQuellé Midmar Mile at the age of 80 years in 2013.
Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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