MILLION METRES AWARDS – Molonglo Water Dragons

(that’s right, 1000 km)

Molonglo Water Dragons’ (MWDs’) four million metres swimmers!

Pictured above in their million metre polo shirts are MWD’s four million metre plus swimmers, namely left to right John Collis, Chris Hayhoe, Marg Larkin and Geoff Llewellyn. These four swimmers between them have swum at least half way around Australia and received their shirts as part of the Masters program detailed later in this article.

John Collis started recording his swims in July 2014 and got his first million 30 months later in February 2017. He kept going from there and got to 2 million 30 months later in August 2019. He has now passed his 3 million mark. John says he is addicted to chlorine and has a chronic case of black line fever. “It has got me off, and kept me off the smokes”.

Chris asks why take on this challenge? “Probably FOMO when I heard others were doing it. So I started on 22 October 2017. Recording the distance I swam gave me a nudge to swim just a little bit further. What gets measured gets done. Isn’t that what they say? So I kept at it and got to the magic number in June 2021. Now I’m churning through to my second million metres”.

While Marg says “My shirt is 1 million, and I am at 820,000m towards my 2 million. My goal is to reach 2 million metres this year (and start on swimming towards the 3 million!). Currently I aim to swim 7-8km per week, any more than that is a bonus. I find swimming towards each million metre milestone provides me a tangible personal goal and incentive to swim other than the great health benefits”.

Finally Geoff says “while my first aim is to finish the Endurance program as early in the year as possible (he is now on pace to complete by the end of May, a new record) I decided to also participate in the Million Metres program. Many of my first million metres were swum in Lake Burley Griffin but the majority have come from the Aerobics/Endurance 1000 swims.”

There are rules governing what swims can be counted in the Million Metres program but they are very fair. They key ones are:

All financial members, volunteers, coaches, and employees of Masters Swimming Australia (MSA) are eligible to enter the Million Meters program and record their data using the app.
To register, entrants must be financial members of MSA, having agreed to the Terms and Conditions of the organisation through the membership declaration.
Swim metres recorded in measured pools and defined open water distance events and/or with recording devices.
Award distances will be recognised for financial members only for the current distance achieved.
Award merchandise will be recognised for financial members only for the current distance achieved.
Awards are processed 4 times a year (1st February, 1st May, 1st August, 1st November).
All data entered via the Million Metres app becomes and remains the property of MSA.
MSA reserves the right to withdraw or amend the data of any member necessary to following the rules and integrity of the program.

The program has been going for many years and for those who are interested

The Million Metres Awards Program was launched in the late 1970’s. Masters Swimming Australia’s major sponsor Vorgee is the naming rights sponsor of the Million Metre Program & Awards since 2007. Awards in the way of certificates, product and trophies and given to members who reach each million award milestone.

The Million Metres Awards Program was updated in 2001, with milestones recognised at one, three & ten million metres.
In 2004, milestones were added for five & seven million metres.
In 2007, the two million metre milestone was added.
In 2008, the programme was expanded to recognise swimmers who attain fifteen million metres.
Since then we’ve been very excited to add the twenty million metres, and 2021 saw the first member reach the twenty-five million metre milestone, providing ongoing recognition to those who continue to excel in long distance swimming.
In 2021, the development of the MSA Million Metres app has digitalised results allowing swimmers to log their swims on a mobile device.
In 2022, Vorgee e-vouchers have been included as award prizes.

Awards

After completion of each milestone, members can apply for the following rewards in recognition of their efforts:

1million	polo shirt, plus Million Metres cap & certificate.
2million	polo shirt (or $50 Vorgee e-voucher), plus Million Metres cap & certificate.
3million	polar fleece, plus $50 Vorgee e-voucher, Million Metres cap & certificate.
4million	polo shirt, plus $50 Vorgee e-voucher, Million Metres cap & certificate.
5million	polo shirt, plus $100 Vorgee e-voucher, engraved plaque, Million Metres cap & certificate.
7million	Vorgee swim bag, plus $50 Vorgee e-voucher, Million Metres cap & certificate.
10million	Nitro jacket and $50 Vorgee e-voucher plus engraved plaque & certificate.
15million	Nitro jacket and $50 Vorgee e-voucher (or $150 Vorgee e-voucher plus engraved plaque & certificate).
20million	Nitro jacket and $50 Vorgee e-voucher (or $150 Vorgee e-voucher plus engraved plaque & certificate).
25million	Nitro jacket and $50 Vorgee e-voucher (or $150 Vorgee e-voucher plus engraved plaque & certificate).

Garments are embroidered with the Masters Swimming Australia logo, the Vorgee logo, the words “One (two, three, four, five, seven, ten, fifteen, twenty or twenty-five) Million Metre Club”. Recipients can nominate to have their Name and/or Club name embroidered on their garments. Note, the Vorgee Swimming bag (7M) is not embroidered.