Today I connect with one of those all-rounder champions, Timothy Langerman, excelling in Triatle, Biathle, with a love for rugby and water polo. He is a grade 11 student at Bishops Diocesan College in Cape Town. Lucky guy, with the sea and beautiful Table Mountain to urge him on!
He is a grade 11 student at Bishops Diocesan College in Cape Town. Lucky guy, with the sea and beautiful Table Mountain to urge him on!
Tim is a humble, hardworking and passionate sportsman of 16 years old. He is fairly new to the multi sports arena but is already making waves with his brilliant achievements. He is determined to move forward with his sports, yet not neglecting his academics and uses meticulous planning as a weapon to get through the different aspects of his day.
Tim has this to say about himself “I am a dedicated athlete and have a very “Type A” personality, meaning I go for what I want until I have nothing left. …..I am privileged to every day have beautiful facilities surrounding me that can help me on my path”. As a 2 year old Tim repeatedly jumped into the pool during his brother’s swimming lessons – now if that was not showing very early signs of the love for sports then I don’t know!
“I am a dedicated athlete and have a very “Type A” personality, meaning I go for what I want until I have nothing left. …
I just want to say to our Youth – be great, you never know who you are inspiring, do not doubt and second guess yourself. If you are working hard at anything – take a moment to celebrate your progress and the point that you are at in your journey!
INTERVIEW:
You are passionate and doing so well in a number of sports disciplines, tell me a little bit about how you started and about your sports journey up to now?
Well, I started in Multi sports in 2013 when I decided to take part in a local ‘Biathlon’ (Run and swim) and I immediately began to grow a passion for multi code sports. I began mainly as a runner and kept swimming fit through my Water Polo. I then decided to give Triathlon a go (Swim, Cycle, Run) and I did my first proper Triathlon competition in December last year and have loved the sport ever since. On the side of Triathlon I still keep up my running, mostly middle distances, and still play school sport which is Rugby and Water polo. My mum is a keen runner and she and my dad used to run marathons and halves together so I guess one could assume I was going to end up running at some point in my life. From the moment my older brother learnt to swim my parents said they could see I was going to love swimming. I would always jump in the pool when he was having a lesson, regardless of the consequences. (My mum had to jump in and save me twice before I had turned two). The last discipline, Cycling is one that is very new to me. I began cycling only at the end of last year and went into Western Province Champs barely knowing how to use cleats. It has been a long hard ride on the cycling side but I can honestly say I’m beginning to love it on the bike.
I began mainly as a runner and kept swimming fit through my Water Polo
What is the highest accolade you have received in Triathlon and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?
I would say winning the U17 WP Triathlon Champs last year at the age of 16 years old. My biggest achievement would probably have been in early 2014 when I won the U15 Category of the South African Biathlon Championships.
Do you have any specific regimens or rituals in Triathlon? Maybe a particular diet / training method that can be partially attributed to your success?
Not really, I’ve always tried to maintain a good diet but the seasons are so long so there are always times when I splash out. Otherwise I always try to get a good night’s sleep and not get too anxious before a race.
How do you manage to fit in both sports and academics into your schedule?
A lot of time is taken up during my day by sports training because I’m having to train for three disciplines instead of one, so balancing academic work on top of all of that is quite tough. I try to plan my days really meticulously and stick close to that plan. It helps to put everything into perspective. I am also incredibly lucky in having a supportive family and circle of friends that help me to keep going.
I try to plan my days really meticulously and stick close to that plan. It helps to put everything into perspective.
Beside your Triathlon what do you have a passion for?
I would say sport and fitness in general but mainly Water Polo. It has been the sport I’ve played the longest and I’ve never lost the passion I have for it regardless of what level I’m playing at.
Tell me one thing about yourself that the world does not know?
Haha, I have a crazy sweet tooth which makes keeping a healthy diet quite hard.
What do you do to relax?
Mostly just watch movies or go to friends’ houses and chill.
Which athlete/ athletes inspire you?
Richard Murray, Didier Drogba and Mo Farrah. All are incredibly humble and set great examples for younger generations of sportsmen and women. I also admire Caroline Wostmann the 2015 Two Oceans and Comrades winner. She is a perfect example to others in that it is easy to see that she loves what she does and is doing the sport to enjoy it.
What is your personal favourite motivational quote?
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
I don’t know if it counts as advice, but I’ve always tried to live by this saying: “Do what you love every day and you’ll never have to work a day in your life” I definitely learned that from my Dad who chased his dreams in doing what he wanted.
What is your biggest challenge, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
Balancing the right amount of family time and other things. I have always, always felt that family comes first. But there is always so much going on at one time that at times I feel it gets quite hard to balance it all. We (My family and I) always have meals together at night and try to spend as much time when we can as possible together.
I have always, always felt that family comes first.
When you’ve had a tough / bad day, what lifts you up again?
Family and without a doubt a bowl of popcorn.
I’m sure you have many things going on right now, what’s to be expected next from Tim Langerman?
My next race is in July in Bloemfontein. It is the SA Duathlon Championships and I’m hoping to do okay in that before returning home and resuming my training for WP Triathlon Champs later this year.
Thank you so much Tim for taking this interview. We would like to wish you all the best for your sports and academic journey ahead. We look forward to following you as you go from strength to strength. Blessings!
Tim is still passionate about his Water Polo.
What is your personal favourite motivational quote?
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain
