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For South African para-athlete Similo Dlamini, water has always symbolised freedom — a place where limitations fall away and possibility takes over. The 42-year-old accountant from KwaMashu in Durban has carved a remarkable journey through the world’s biggest open-water swim, the Midmar Mile, proving resilience is as much a part of her sport as strength and endurance.
Born with Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD), a congenital condition that left her right leg underdeveloped, Dlamini has relied on a prosthetic limb throughout her life. But last year presented her most profound physical challenge yet — a surgical amputation intended to improve her mobility and overall quality of life.
This February, just months after that life-altering procedure, Dlamini marked her triumphant return to competitive swimming by completing her sixth Midmar Mile at Midmar Dam — an event famed as the world’s largest open-water swim.
“This was my first activity since the operation,” she shared, reflecting on how significant the swim was for her personally and physically. For someone who thrives on movement, taking the step back into competition was both emotional and empowering.
Though her new prosthetic is still being fitted and she continues to navigate life on crutches, Dlamini’s determination remained unmistakable. She eased back into training with cautious pool sessions, gradually increasing her distance before race day. When the morning of the Midmar Mile arrived, she was ready.
Supported by family, she finished the race in 52 minutes 59 seconds, comfortably under her goal time and placing sixth in the differently abled female category. While not a podium finish like her third-place result in 2024, the personal significance of completing the swim this year carried far deeper meaning.
Crossing the finish line, Dlamini said, brought a powerful mix of adrenaline and emotion — a reminder of how far she has journeyed. “When you’re in the water, you surprise yourself,” she explained.
Dlamini’s athletic pursuits extend beyond swimming. She is a decorated parasurfer, with multiple regional and national titles, and has represented South Africa internationally. Adrenaline, she admits, is a defining theme of her life.
Looking forward, she’s set to compete at the SA Para Surfing Championships later this year and hopes that her evolving prosthetic — designed to enhance mobility on land and perhaps even in aquatic settings — will open new paths in her sport.
Off the water, Dlamini balances full-time work with postgraduate studies in development finance at Stellenbosch University, all while embracing her role as a dedicated aunt. For her, swimming remains a constant — a place not just of competition, but of joy and perseverance.
Asked about her future Midmar plans, she simply said: why not push a little further every year? Her story suggests there’s always another distance worth reaching.
