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The story of Bernard Becker is one of being strong and courageous even in times of struggle and in times when results are not what they should be, despite hard and relentless training. He is a wonderful encouragement to all our little athletes that they need to push through the hard patches in sport. He puts his faith in God’s plan for his life and is ambitious for the future.
He says “ …things I would like people to see in me, is someone who can work hard when no one is looking. I am really a relaxed person when it comes to swimming. I try not to overthink stuff and to be calm at all times. I like to be alone especially when I train. I am focused and love swimming in my own lane. I don’t care what other people’s times are and I just train to swim the perfect race. I can do nothing about a competitor, I can only swim MY race”.
Athlete: Bio / Stats |
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| Name & Surname | Bernard Becker |
| Nick Name | Barry |
| Date of birth | 19 March 2001 |
| Place of birth | Wligers Hospital, Pretoria |
| Current City | Pretoria |
| Height | 1,85 m |
| Weight | 73 kg |
| Shoe Size | nr 10 |
| Club | Gerhard Zandberg Sport Academy (GZSA) |
| Coach’s Name | Gerhard Zandberg |
| Out of Country events/ meets | Mozambique Aug 2015 and now the CANA Junior Africa Swimming Championships, coming up at the end of March 2017 in Cairo, Egypt. |
| Secondary Sport/ sports | Athletics- High jump |
| Favorite City | Best memories in Sochi, Russia, Menlopark Choir tour, June 2016.
Love Pretoria, always! |
| Favorite Song/ type of music | “It’s real” Artist: Real Estate.
I love Indie and hate Country. |
| Favorite Movie | Tintin |
| School & Grade | Menlopark Hoërskool, Gr 10 |
| Sponsors | Full sponsor from my dad……haha…. and ARENA |
| Twitter and Instagram names, facebook name | Instagram: bernard_becker Facebook: Bernard Becker |
| Community / church projects involved in | I am part of NG Lynnwood and hope to be more involved in community projects, especially teaching under privileged people to swim and enjoy the water as much as I do. We have so much to give! |
| Parents Names, siblings | My parents,Gert & Janet Becker,
my sister Janet(28) and brother-in-law, Naudé(30) and their baby boy, Eduan(1) and then my big brother, Gerhard(25). Yes, I am a ‘laatlammetjie’ and an uncle and I love it! |
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?
My swimming journey started in Gr1 when the whole grade was forced to go to the swimming try outs. After the try outs I went to the inter house gala and came second in 25 freestyle. I didn’t even swim in a proper swimsuit all I had was a black skipants. I was terrible in cricket and not really the best in rugby so I saw swimming as an opportunity to do my own thing and as a challenge. From there on I took swimming lessons till I qualified for level 2 in grade 4. Allthough I trained a lot at that stage, I never won and really struggled to swim the times that I wanted. This motivated me more than winning. I learned how it felt not to win when I was little and that helped me a lot throughout my swimming career. I then started swimming with Gerhard Zandberg and then I started to win some races. Gerhard saw some potential in me and and took me to where I am now. We use a “smart training” approach that is completely different to the way I use to train and how most of my competitors train.
Q: Who are you? Describe yourself as a person.
It’s hard to describe myself but the things I would like people to see in me, is someone who can work hard when no one is looking. I am really a relaxed person when it comes to swimming. I try not to overthink stuff and to be calm at all times. I like to be alone especially when I train. I am focused and love swimming in my own lane. I don’t care what other people’s times are and I just train to swim the perfect race. I can do nothing about a competitor; I can only swim MY race.
Q: You have been selected to be part part of Team SA for the Champs in Egypt in March – Congratulations! What is on your heart and mind right now regarding this upcoming event?
I’m super stoked to be on the team because this means that Swim SA has noticed me. I feel like my hard work is paying off , but I know that if I want to become a professional swimmer, I have to win at this gala and even try to break a record. That would be so great!!
Q: What is the highest accolade that you have achieved in Swimming and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment so far is winning a gold medal in 50 freestyle, backstroke and fly at the 2016 Nationals. It made me feel so happy to see the result of all the hard training. I broke 5 NTS records at the 2016 NTS champs.
Q: Would you like to share a little bit more about your faith journey and how it has affected your life / sports?
I am just so blessed to be in the position that I am with great parents and an awesome coach and love and support from everyone. I take nothing for granted . I know that my talents and my motivation comes from God and I am thankful and try to do the best with my talent. I try to stay humble and to keep my head away from the clouds, because I know that I could never be where I am on my own
Q: What do you do to relax?
Once every 2 – 3 weeks my friends and I braai together and just chill the whole night long. There is nothing so relaxing than to sit with your friends and relax. I am fortunate to have amazing friends. I also play Ukelele in my free time to relax. I also sing in the Menlopark choir that is the best mixed school choir in the country. I love dirt bike riding and wish there was more time for that.
Q: In your opinion, what is the value of Education in a young person’s life?
Without education one will struggle in life. You need something to fall back on when you quit swimming. When you have a good education you are more than just a swimmer. You cannot rely on swimming alone to provide you with a good income and cannot keep on swimming forever. That is why I study hard to get to a good university to become a mechanical engineer.
Q: So, you are a brilliant athlete and academic– but name 1 thing that you suck at 🙂
I really suck at cricket. In Gr1, I went to one cricket practice and I hated it so much that I’ve never played it again. The result now is that I cannot catch or hit a ball with any form of stick!! In other words- I suck at ball sports.
Q: What is your personal favourite motivational quote?
‘Losers quit when they’re tired. Winners quit when they’ve won.’ Anonymous
Q: What is your favourite Bible / Scripture quote?
Jeremiah 29;11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Q: What’s your WHY ? Why do you do what you do?
I swim because I want to see how far I can get. I want to be the best 50 free style swimmer. I would like people to know me as someone who works very hard, always stays humble, loves his country, always tries his best and never gives up.
Q: Anything else you would like to share?
I hope that I can inspire someone that does not win a lot, to keep on trying and become as good as they can be, at what they do.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to share something of myself with you.
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!
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