Daniel Billings is one of SA’s top up and coming young athletes who is working extremely hard at his swimming to make it onto the world area. He is focused, versatile, humble and has great faith in God, his family and his couch. He is proudly part the Team SA who will represent South African in Italy this July 2018 at the Tricolor Games in Reggio Emilia.
The latter city is also proudly the birth place of the beautiful Italian Flag and a special bond city between SA and Italy because of the Oliver Tambo and Giuseppe Soncini lifelong friendship through the years of political struggle and beyond. We wish you all the very best for Italy next month Daniel.
Daniel says about himself – “I AM A VERY COMPETATIVE PERSON, THEREFORE I FIND IT VERY HARD TO ACCEPT A LOSE SOMETIMES. I AM A FUNNY BUT ALSO DEDICATED & DISCIPLINED SPORTSMAN AS I AM A VERY GOOD RUGBY PLAYER AS WELL.”
Athlete: Bio / Stats |
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| Name & Surname | DANIEL KYLE BILLINGS |
| Nick Name | “DANNY K” |
| Date of birth | 16-07-2002 |
| Place of birth | JOHANNESBURG – GARDEN CITY CLINIC |
| Current City | JOHANNESBURG |
| Height | 1.86 |
| Weight | 75KG |
| Shoe Size | 10 |
| Club | SUPERFINS |
| Coach’s Name | RAMON COUTRIERS |
| Out of Country event | TRI COLOUR GAMES – ITALY JULY 2018 |
| Secondary Sport/ sports | RUGBY |
| Favorite City | SWITZERLAND |
| Favorite Song/ type of music | HOUSE MUSIC – RESIDENT IN MY HEART BY LADY ZAMAR |
| Favorite Movie | MONSTERS INC |
| School & Grade | PARKTOWN BOYS HIGH SCHOOL – GRADE 10 |
| Sponsors | NONE CURRENTLY |
| Community / church projects involved in | FAMILY WORKSHIP CENTRE – YOUTH GROUP |
| Parents Names, siblings | JEFFERSON & RASHIDA, MEGAN (27), CALEB (17) |
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 SWIMMING AT THE AGE OF 7 BUT GOT ILL AND HAD TO STOP SWIMMING. I STARTED AGAIN IN 2010 WHEN OUR SWIMMING CLUB WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED (SUPERFINS).
Q: Who are you? Describe yourself as a person.
I AM A VERY COMPETATIVE PERSON, THEREFORE I FIND IT VERY HARD TO ACCEPT A LOSE SOMETIMES. I AM A FUNNY BUT ALSO DEDICATED & DISCIPLINED SPORTSMAN AS I AM A VERY GOOD RUGBY PLAYER AS WELL.
I MUST ADD THAT TWO OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY SPORTING THUS FAR WAS WHEN I WAS CHOSEN IN GRADE 6 TO PLAY FOR THE JUNIOR LIONS AND BEING AWARDED THE VICTOR LADORIUM TROPHY IN SWIMMING/SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR IN MY FIRST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL AT ALLEN GLEN HIGH SCHOOL IN 2016.
Q: You have just participated in the OR Tambo Soncini Social Cohesion Games and made the preliminary squad for the Tri Colour Games in Italy 2018. Congratulations. What is on your mind regarding the preparation lying ahead till the final team is selected?
THANK YOU. THIS WILL BE MY FIRST OVER SEAS SPORTS TRIP THEREFORE I AM VERY EXCITED AND NERVOUS AS I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. I AM TRYING MY BEST BETWEEN THE RUGBY GAMES, GYM AND SWIMMING GYM AND GOING TO MY LOCAL GYM, IN ORDER TO BE IN BEST SHAPE FOR THE GAMES IN ITALY.
Q: Why do you have so much love and respect for your coach?
I HAVE SUCH LOVE AND RESPECT FOR MY COACH BECAUSE HE STARTED THE JOURNEY WITH ME AND HE BELIEVES IN ME.
Q: What is your favorite food? And who must cook it 🙂 ?
MY FAVOURITE FOOD IS PASTA AND MY MOTHER MUST COOK IT.
Q: So you swim well and are doing well in academics but name 1 thing that you suck at 🙂
I THINK I AM NOT A BRILLIANT ACADEMIC AS I SUCK AT DOING HOME WORK. I ALSO SUCK AT MAKING FOOD.
Q: What are you most grateful for in your life at the moment?
I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY PARENTS AND EXTENDED FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING ME IN EVERYTHING I DO AND ALWAYS TO GOD BECAUSE HE GIVES US STRENGHTH.
Q: What’s your WHY ? Why do you do what you do?
I DO WHAT I DO TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL SWIMMER FIRST, REPRESENT SOUTH AFRICA AS AN OLYMPIC SWIMMER. I WOULD LIKE TO BE AN INFLUENCE ON THE YOUTH OF TODAY TO SHOW THEM THAT IF YOU WORK HARD, TRUST IN GOD YOU CAN ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE MY FAMILY PROUD OF ME.
Q: Anything else you would like to share?
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD A QUOTE BY MY MENTOR MICHAEL PHELPS “IF YOU WANT TO BE THE BEST YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT WILLING TO DO”
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!
