South Africans Show Heartfelt Gratitude For Wayne Ridden’s Contributions & Leadership
South Africans Show Heartfelt Gratitude For Wayne Ridden’s Contributions & Leadership
Courtesy of Lexie Kelly, Midmar Dam, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.“Imagine over 18,000 open water swimmers gathering in one location to compete in a variety of amateur, charity, disabled and elite competitions…in a country where there are only 6,000 registered competitive swimmers,” observes Steven Munatones. “This is the environment that Wayne Riddin and his team have created in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
The aQuellé Midmar Mile is not only one of the world’s most exciting and biggest open water swimming events, it is also part of a nationwide series of events that really drives people from all walks of life to take to the open water. From timing systems and buoy placement, from online social media interaction to celebrities, from Special Olympics to professional athletes, the aQuellé Midmar Mile has it all – and it is the operational and logistical mastermind of Wayne. Its 12 seeding events, its hot spots, its Facebook strategy, its royalty, its aerial coverage, its biathlons, its family teams, its car give-away, its live streaming: there is so much Wayne has created to develop the most extravagant, innovative, comprehensive open water swimming event in the world.
He is innovative and inspirational. He is visionary for his commitment to give back to the sport of swimming, thereby further driving even more people to enter Midmar.”
At this weekend’s aQuellé Midmar Mile, his Seal Team celebrated his 60th birthday while people showered praises for his leadership and operational skills to pull off another Midmar Mile event that was covered by dozens of journalists from the television, print, online and radio media.Copyright © 2008 – 2020 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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