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Richard Willmore
Having never swum competitively at an early age, Richard Willmore discovered his swimming ability at the age of 23 as a triathlete. After graduating from the University of Pretoria with a B Comm Business Computer Science degree, Willmore moved to Cape Town where he trained with Tom Fraenkel. Willmore attained Western Province A and Junior Springbok colours for triathlon. His notable achievements include a 2nd at the 1991 South African Triathlon Championships held at Langebaan and 3rd at the 1990 Longmile Double Standard Triathlon. Willmore currently swims for Cape Dolphins Masters and recently achieved 1 gold and 3 silver medals in his age group at the South African Masters Swimming Nationals held in Oudtshoorn. Willmore has recently started competing in open water events which he thoroughly enjoys.
=Open Water Swimming Career
He also was one of the winners at the Clifton Openwater Race Experience (C.O.R.E.) in Clifton, South Africa in May 2013.
Source2Swim
He was one of the adventure swimmers of the Source2Sea three-week stage swim together with Liz Webb and Craig Torr. They completed a 21-day stage swim and 309 km source to sea swim in the Western Cape of South Africa together along the entire length of the Breede River, from its source in Ceres to its mouth at Cape Infanta in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Mission of Source2Sea
Source2Sea aims to raise awareness for the need for clean water in South Africa. Willmore explains, "Almost all of South Africa’s rivers, streams and dams are under threat of environmental pollution. This pollution is caused by over-population of rural rain water catchment areas, and the use of rivers and streams for human bathing and washing as well as a lack of municipal infrastructure. Lack of sanitation and lack of access to our rural communities has caused a steady increase in water borne diseases such as cholera. A lack of government funding has resulted in continuously unhealthy material being pumped into our drinking water, rivers and dams."
Through Source2Sea, the trio want to raise the profile of the Breede River and the need to keep this majestic river clean and beautiful.
