By Kim Robinson
Durban's "exceptional swimming conditions" have lured 21 French swimmers to train and participate in the Ola-Seal Midmar Mile on Sunday.
Each year the club, ASPTT Paris-Natation, chooses a "warmer climate" for a two-week training camp during their winter season. Two years ago they were in the Caribbean, last year it was Malta and this year they decided to brave South Africa and, more especially, Durban.
Ranging in age from 11 to 33, the 21 swimmers are here with coach Jacques Arie and club vice-president Guy Lagore.
A mutual friend of Arie and KwaZulu-Natal Aquatics Association Council member, Neville Phillips, told him of the club. He suggested they come and train in Durban.
Arie said when they returned to France, it would be time for the national championship qualifiers and his team would be ready.
Arie added there were two stars in his club. Kevin Journiac is the top of his age group, while Canadian Iris Elliott won a national competition in December.
"Iris is our strongest swimmer. She completed the freestyle 100m in 58,67 seconds," said Arie.
Arie also said Elliott had a strong chance of making the Canadian Olympic team. "Iris will go back to Canada to compete in the national selection in May. She has a good chance," said Arie.
The coach believes the swimming conditions in Durban are "exceptional" and they have received a warm welcome from everybody.
Phillips said because the club had just missed the local swimming season, he suggested they enter the Midmar Mile to experience the local competition.
The club is looking forward to the challenge and on Sunday will join 15 000 swimmers when they take to the water.
The youngest competitor this year is Ashleigh McMullen, 6, while the oldest is Colin Cable, 89.
Organiser of the event, Wayne Riddin, said there would be fierce competition in the men's and women's events.
"Main challenger in the men will be Terence Parkin, who recently broke multiple records. The others to look out for will be Gareth Fowler, double winner in both 1996 and 1997.
"If he wins again this year he will be the first to hold the title of three wins. Rob Mackay was last year's winner and is hoping to take the title again," said Riddin.
In the women's section, Bronwyn Dedekind, who led from start to finish last year, will be challenging Donna Leslie and Marieka Theunissen, who should prove tough competition as she has led in the openwater swimming competitions this season.
This is one of the only competitions where the prize money for both the men's and women's events is equal.
The prize money stands at R1 600 for victory while the leaders at the 400m, 800m and 1 200m can accumulate R400, R800 and R1 200 respectively. A swimmer who leads from the start can earn a total of R4 000.
Double prize money is an added incentive for previous winners. Any previous winner of the 14-30 event who leads from start to finish can accumulate a total of R8 000 while a record breaking finish could result in R10 000.
On Saturday, about 500 company, non-company and family teams will take to the water followed by the disabled section and the Natal Iron men and women competition.