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Today we chat to Tasneem Ebrahim, a proud daughter of Nelson Mandela Bay who has done her part in in showing humility, a champion’s heart and excellence in the swimming arena. She is driven by hard work, lot of fun and a joie de vivre that is contagious. She has proudly represented our beautiful nation and shown the steel that she is made of. “A girly girl” on the inside but lined with steel.
Her views on education is that it is a great equiliser. She says this about herself “ I am a very happy, go- lucky person and love to reach my full potential in everything that I do. I love to joke around and have fun with friends and have the reputation as the person that can tell the lamest jokes or always have a pun ready. A few characteristics that I would love to take with me now and for the future is stay dedicated, disciplined, work hard and enjoy every second of it. Because if you do something you love every day, you will never get tired of it”.
Virtrix Ludorum – Top Female Swimmer – NMU Madibaz Gala 2017
Athlete: Bio / Stats |
|
| Name & Surname | Tasneen Ebrahim |
| Nick Name | Tazz |
| Date of birth | 16th of September 2002 |
| Place of birth | Port Elizabeth |
| Current City | Port Elizabeth |
| Height | 175 cm |
| Weight | 66kg |
| Shoe Size | 7 |
| Club | PEA |
| Coach’s Name | Mark Edge |
| Out of Country events/ meets | Swimming: CANA Zone 3 Games held in Rwanda (2016)
Open water: LEN Cup held in Rome, Italy (2017); CANA Zone 4 Junior Open Water Championship held in Mauritius (2017) |
| Secondary Sport/ sports | Hockey |
| Favorite City | Rome |
| Favorite Song/ type of music | All music |
| Favorite Movie | All types, especially sci-fi. |
| School & Grade | St Dominic’s Priory , Grade 10 (2018) |
| Sponsors | None |
| Twitter and Instagram names, facebook name | Instagram: tazz_ebrahim
FaceBook: Tasneen Ebrahim Swimming, @TasneenSwimming |
| Community / church projects involved in | St. Dominic’s Priory Interact Club |
| Parents Names, siblings | Mother: Melisa Ebrahim.
Father: Reza Ebrahim. Younger sister: Jenah Ebrahim |
Sportsman of The Year 2016 Award present by SA Olympic swimmer Jessica Roux
INTERVIEW:
Q: You are passionate and doing so well in your Swimming tell me a little bit about how you started in Swimming and your journey in the Swimming arena up to now?
I started getting into swimming at a very young age due to the fact that I had battled with asthma and was recommended by my doctors to start swimming to help me regulate my breathing. I only started the competitive side of swimming in about Grade 5. My first gala I managed to swim a level 1 qualifying time and then from that moment on I’ve fallen in love with the sport. From a newbie swimmer to being chosen to represent our country at various international events and qualifying for various other nationals.
Q: Firstly – you have been blessed to have been part of Team SA recently – Congrats! How did you experience it?
Thanks you so much! I found racing internationally and against other countries can be really exciting. It was a huge learning curve for me. Watching the best in the World get ready before big races, how they warm up and various other things was amazing. Overall I loved every second of it, and experiencing all the different cultures of each country and meeting so many swimmers across the globe and being in a team with some of the best swimmers in South Africa was incredible. Also the opportunity to be a representative and ambassador for SA was a big responsibility and great honour for me.
Team SA in Rwanda at the CANA Games
Q: Who are you? Describe yourself as a person.
I am a very happy, go- lucky person and love to reach my full potential in everything that I do. I love to joke around and have fun with friends and have the reputation as the person that can tell the lamest jokes or always have a pun ready. A few characteristics that I would love to take with me now and for the future is stay dedicated, disciplined, work hard and enjoy every second of it. Because if you do something you love every day, you will never get tired of it.
Medals won in Rwanda at the CANA Games 2016
Q: What is the highest accolade that you have achieved in Swimming and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?
My highest accolade was being selected for the national squad for Open Water. My greatest personal achievements happens at every one of my races and practices because I know that I have achieved more today than I had the day before.
Q: Beside your swimming what do you have a passion for?
I have a passion for many sports , but mostly hockey. I love indoor hockey and field, and often try and make time for the sport. It allows me a bit of team sport, socializing and a release of some feistiness.
Q: In your opinion, what is the value of Education in a young person’s life?
The value of education in a young person is very important. Education allows us the opportunity to experience and prepare us for our future, whether it’s the basic education of reading and writing to chemical equations; education is what gives us the benefits of knowing what is happening in the world around us and how we fit in. It helps us to be able to contribute in a positive way and an equal chance at life.
Q: Tell me one thing about yourself that the world does not know 
?
I’m secretly a girly girl.
Q: So, you are a brilliant swimmer and academic – but name 1 thing that you suck at
I can’t cook… at all.
Team SA Relay in Rwanda
Q: What are you most grateful for in your life at the moment?
I’m out of this world grateful for my family, for supporting me in every one of my decisions and giving me every opportunity to reach my dream one day. I’m also grateful for each one of my supporters out there, who always send me good luck messages and personal ones too. I thank each of them for believing in me and always putting a smile on my face.
Q: Which athlete inspires you and why?
Katinka Hosszu, AKA “The Iron Lady”, because she always pushes the boundaries of swimming and drives herself to achieve her full potential. She has single-handedly changed the face of female swimming, gone from seeing women as a weaker sex to seeing us as equal.
Q: In your opinion, how do you define success in life / how do you define a successful person?
To define success in life is to be happy with what you doing and that you are pushing yourself to the absolute most. The result should reflect on the amount of work put into your goal and if it all matches up … I say that’s success!
Meeting Chad Le Chlos
Q: What’s your WHY ? Why do you do what you do?
I do this because I love it. It’s my thing and it’s something that separates me from the rest of the world. I don’t only for myself , but hope to one day be a role-model for every little girl out there who thinks their dreams are bigger than themselves. No dream is to big or to small, and to reach for the stars. And to never ever give up, no matter what anyone tells you, because it’s your dream … now go and chase it.
Q: Anything else you would like to share?
Yes, thank you, I want to share a quote that I learnt a long time ago, something that when others said I was silly to be swimming “all the time” and something I needed to continue to focus on my dreams…
“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can do what others can’t.” – Jerry Rice
Spar River Mile Top 10 finish on debut – 2017
Thank you so much for taking this interview. We would like to wish you all the best for your journey ahead. We look forward to following you as you go from strength to strength. Blessings!
