PARA-ATHLETE EXCITED TO TAKE PART IN MIDMAR MILE
Apositive and focused mindset can help you achieve your goals, says Similo Dlamini, a para-athlete who has competed twice in the World Para Surfing Championships and will be returning to participate in the 2024 aQuellé Midmar Mile next month.
Dlamini, who despite being born with a congenital condition, has managed to overcome adversity to compete at an international level.
“Life is a challenging journey but positivity can help you overcome any hurdle, even those that appear to be impossible to conquer,” said the swimmer.
“I live life as normally as I can. In fact I don’t see myself as being diffferent from others. I’m only human and my life is normal. I have dreams and intend achieving them.
Dlamini has become one of the regular faces in the annual aQuellé Midmar Mile at Midmar Dam, scheduled for February.
“It’s becoming one of my annual ‘retreats’,” reckoned the KwaMashu-born adaptive surfer, who will be participating in the world’s largest open water event for the fourth time.
Speaking about her training, Dlamini explained: “I swim about two to three times a week and compete in the Dolphin Miles … Time in the water is always good and this improves my paddling which is important in surfing.”
The aQuellé Midmar Mile is an event that attracts a vast array of swimmers each year — from novices to Olympians, young to old and those who are differently abled.
Reflecting on her last Midmar Mile,
Dlamini said: “Watching differently abled swimmers achieve their goals inspires me to keep on coming back here and showing the world that everyone can do it. Being differently abled doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything, it’s just that you do things differently.”
As for those still deciding whether to take on the challenge, Dlamini added a word of motivation: “Give it a shot, be calm and just keep swimming. It’s just one stroke at a time.”