KwaZulu-Natal radio favourite Keri Miller is once again ready to test the temperature and the tide at the 2026 aQuellé Midmar Mile, confirming her return to the world’s biggest open-water swim from 5–8 February.
The co-founder of digital radio station PlayZN will contest the family race on Saturday, blending sport, sponsorship and sentiment as she also steps up as an ambassador for Mr Price Sport.
It will be Miller’s third Midmar Mile, but this one promises to ripple with deeper meaning as she lines up alongside a strong family contingent, including her sister, brother-in-law, niece and two nephews.
“As a family, last year was our first time swimming Midmar together and we absolutely loved it,” Miller said, describing an experience that flowed straight into her heart.
Keri Miller and family
Her Midmar journey began almost by accident with a casual interview with race director Wayne Riddin a few years ago and the lure of a finishers’ towel proved enough to pull her into the dam in 2024.
“It’s a really great towel,” she laughed.
By 2025, the current had strengthened.
“For the 2025 race, my sister had already entered her whole family and I thought, if [my niece] Charli-Rose can swim it at six, then nothing is stopping me. It felt like one of the best family days we could ever have together. Such a cool memory to make.”
Miller believes the Midmar Mile mirrors her philosophy of active, connected living — a natural extension of her PlayZN ethos.
“Considering I have a radio station called PlayZN, I’m a huge supporter of anything that gets us outside, off our phones and into our bodies. For anyone who’s had the privilege of learning to swim, this is one of the most satisfying things you can do. And everyone loves a medal. It’s such a celebration of how beautiful Midmar is.”
Her ambassador role with Mr Price Sport adds another layer of purpose to her plunge.
“It’s a beautiful reminder that I’m in a strong, healthy body and that at 43 I can move happily and pain-free. Being able to represent a local brand in a local race feels special. I’m grateful and I hope to see more women my age shifting how they think about and treat their beautiful bodies.”
Preparation will be steady rather than splashy, with yoga, general fitness and open-water conditioning guiding her build-up.
“I’ll do some training with Nix O’Driscoll, who is a wonderful coach and will give me all the pointers, and then keep some sea swimming going because we know Midmar is not flat!”
Yet for Miller, the real finish line is not the clock, but the moment.
“Spending time with Matt, Brad and Charli. Those three are everything to me… I just want to be present, cross that finish line together and get our family photo at the end. I get teary even thinking about it. I’m obsessed with those little humans.”
Looking beyond her own lane, Miller believes the Midmar Mile’s magic lies in its accessibility.
“The sense of accomplishment at the end is huge and it’s so doable. You don’t have to be elite to compete. It’s the perfect race.”
Early-bird entries for the 2026 aQuellé Midmar Mile close on 21 December via www.midmarmile.com
