Charlene and stars shine at Midmar

By Fienie Grobler and Jenni O'Grady, Sapa

The world's largest open water swimming event features 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.

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