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Fresh & Hungry – Jade Simons

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Jade Simons is one of SA’s girl stars in swimming. Behind that beautiful smile is a very solid and strong young lady. She is rooted in her faith in Christ in whom she finds her strength. She has not only represented our beautiful nation internationally, but has also done so with great success. About herself she says “I am a 16 year old swimmer, currently in grade 10. My character is positive, motivated, sociable, headstrong, caring and confident”.

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 have always loved water since I was little – having long baths and playing in the swimming pool. My parents realized that I had to be watersafe and they enrolled me for swimming lessons at the age of two. Since then, I have fallen in love with the sport and have tried to be the best swimmer I can be!

Q: You have been proudly part of Team SA before representing our beautiful nation, where did you go what did that feel like?

I represented SA for the first time in 2015 at the Junior African Games in Cairo, Egypt. I enjoyed the experience and it exposed me to the international competitive swimming arena. I was excited and nervous because I did not know what to expect and it was an honour to represent SA.

Q: Who are you? Describe yourself as a person.

I am a 16 year old swimmer, currently in grade 10. My character is positive, motivated, sociable, headstrong, caring and confident.

Q: What is the highest accolade that you have achieved in Swimming and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?

My highest accolade in my swimming career is being chosen to represent South Africa. My greatest personal accomplishment is winning medals for South Africa in international swimming competitions.

Q: Would you like to share a little bit more about your faith journey and how it has affected your life / sports?

As a Christian I believe that God is always with me and guiding me through every race that I swim. I call on Him before each race and always give thanks to Him after each race. God has helped me through everything and I thank Him for giving me all of the opportunities in my life.

Q: In your opinion, what is the value of Education in a young person’s life?

Education is import because it gives us knowledge and knowledge is power. I believe that our country should educate children so that they can be empowered to become strong in independent people.

Q: So you swim well and are doing well in academics but name 1 thing that you suck at 🙂

I am not good at road running.

Q: What is your favourite meal and who must cook it?

My favourite meal is prawns and I love the way that my Godmother makes it.

Q: Beside your Swimming, what do you have a passion for?

I’m passionate about fairness and justice, especially the rights of children.

Q: What is your definition of success?

Success for me is getting back up when you fail and to try again. If I had a bad race I analyze it with my coach and focus on improving my techniques for my next event.

Q: What’s your WHY ?  Why do you do what you do?

I do swimming because I love the competitiveness of the sport. I would like to be a role model for the youth to motivate them that any dreams and goals are within reach if you work hard and never give up.

Q: Anything else you would like to share?

It takes hard work and commitment to achieve your goals, but the success is worth the time, effort and sacrifice that you invest.

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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Fresh & Hungry – Mieke Muller

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Mieke Muller, determined and brilliant your swimmer is proof that she can indeed be young and wise. She has a wonderful positive and joyful perspective on life that jumps out from the interview and just motives you! She is resilient, knows the grind, and willing the pay the price for success. She is an awesome young  advocate for human rights, girl power ? and being thankful and grateful for the blessings that life gives us.

She says “I  am a hardworking self-driven young girl that finds motivation in failure. I am an introvert and an absolute book worm. My philosophy in life is to be kind and compassionate to anyone, regardless of their background. I am in love with my country. I care a great deal for the environment and I cannot survive without swimming. I am a supporter of girl power and I hope to be an intellectual and inspiring woman now and in the future”.

Athlete: Bio / Stats
Name & Surname Mieke Muller
Nick Name Mieks
Date of birth 16 September 2002
Place of birth Pretoria
Current City Irene
Height 173 cm
Weight 59 kg
Shoe Size 8
Club Tuks Swimming
Coach’s Name Keenan Riffle
Out of Country events/ meets Golfhino Sprint in Mozambique
Secondary Sport/ sports I only do swimming
Favorite City Yzerfontein
Favorite Song/ type of music Feel it Still by Portugal the Man
Favorite Movie Interstellar
School & Grade St. Mary’s DSG, Grade 9
Twitter and Instagram names, facebook name Instagram: @mieke_.muller
Community / church projects involved in The St. Mary’s DSG outreach program
Parents Names, siblings Mom – Paula Muller

Dad – Hannes Muller

Brother – Human Muller

Sister – Zani Taitz

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 2 to simply learn water safety. I participated in school galas since grade 1 where I learned that my main stroke is breaststroke. At the age of 10 I moved on to competitive club swimming at Tuks and started to work my way up the different levels. After a very disappointing season in 2015 I had to redeem myself and after that I started to really work my way up the ranks and competed at my first SA Short Course this year.

Q: Who are you? Describe yourself as a person.

I am a hardworking self-driven young girl that finds motivation in failure. I am an introvert and an absolute book worm. My philosophy in life is to be kind and compassionate to anyone, regardless of their background. I am in love with my country. I care a great deal for the environment and I cannot survive without swimming. I am a supporter of girl power and I hope to be an intellectual and inspiring woman now and in the future.

Q: What is the highest accolade that you have achieved in Swimming and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?

The highest accolade I have achieved in swimming up until today is competing at the SA Short Course Championships in Pietermaritzburg. I believe that my greatest personal success is that I never leave my academics behind. I put an equal amount of work into swimming and academics. My goal is to always strive in both.

Q: Why do you have so much love and respect for your coaches?

What enhances that amazing feeling after a successful race is a huge smile and high five from my coach. Whenever I am working really hard and putting a lot of effort in to training my coach is also there on the pool deck, putting just as much hard work and effort in, and for that I have a tremendous amount of respect.

Q: Would you like to share a little bit more about your faith journey and how it has affected your life / sports?

I do believe that my talents and gifts come from the man above and in return to say thank you I must practice and develop these talents to the best of my capability.

Q: So, you are a brilliant athlete – but name 1 thing that you suck at 🙂

I was born with two left feet, I cannot dance at all.

Q: Favourite food and who must cook it?

My mom’s spaghetti bolognaise, no one can cook it like her.

Q: Value of Education in a young person’s life?

I believe that education is the third most valuable thing in a young person’s life, after food and water. Those of us who are fortunate enough to receive beyond average education should be extremely grateful. Education is so tremendously valuable to a young person’s life because it’s not just about the lessons in textbooks but it is about the life lessons it teaches you, the necessary knowledge and experiences to evolve and shape our future. A person without education might be able get to point A, but education can take a person to point B, C, D, and beyond, anywhere they would like to go.

Q: What is your definition of success in life?

To be happy and content with what you are doing for a living, whether that is being a swimmer or becoming an astronaut.

Q: What’s your WHY ?  Why do you do what you do?

In 2015, I came to a point in my career where I questioned if I should continue with swimming. That was not only because I had an extremely unsuccessful season but more importantly I had no why, no motivation and no reason behind what I was doing. After many hours of contemplation, I decided to continue swimming. Only 5 months later I started to compete again and I was completely stunned with my performance. I didn’t know it at the time, but this was when I found my why. My why is that feeling of absolute joy when you redeem yourself after complete failure and show everyone, whether they believe in you or not, that you are capable of amazing things. In the future, I would like to have a positive impact on all the female swimmers in South Africa and encourage them to continue with swimming and to have confidence in themselves and what they are doing.

Q: What are you most grateful for at the moment?

My amazing parents who support and motivate me in everything I do without putting an excessive amount of pressure on me. My brilliant coach who comprehends and supports me throughout my swimming career and pushes me to my full potential. I am also grateful to be training with a such an amazing squad, we motivate each other and together we make each training session just a bit more entertaining.

Q: Anything else you would like to share?

“It’s what you do in the dark, that puts you in the light” – Michael Phelps. I do not believe in luck, if you want to achieve something you are going to have to put the hard work in to get there.

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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Fresh & Hungry – Human Muller

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Human Muller speaks with such a voice of calm, relax  and reason about nature, the arts, culture and sport and how they all co-exist.

He is a brilliant and wonderful sportsman and athlete in open water and aquatics,   with a deep respect for nature and all creation around him.

About himself he says “I don’t know who I am, but I know that I have a soft spot for the arts. I would like to pursue the arts. I enjoy the outdoors and there is a certain allure that plants hold. I am also a hardcore relaxer. I like relaxing and I have the innate ability to enjoy doing nothing”.

 

Athlete: Bio / Stats
Name & Surname Human Muller
Date of birth 11/08/2000
Place of birth Pretoria
Current City Pretoria
Height 186 cm
Weight Approx. 80 kg
Shoe Size 11
Club Tuks
Coach’s Name Keenan Riffel
Secondary Sport/ sports Social Jogging
Favorite City Pretoria
Favorite Song/ type of music Power Metal
Favorite Movie Pulp Fiction
School & Grade St Albans college grade 11
Parents Names, siblings Hannes, Paula, Mieke

INTERVIEW:

Q: Tell me a little bit about how you started in Swimming and your journey in the Swimming arena up to now?

I started swimming when I saw people at the Olympics on TV.  It was fun for many years and I trained at a few different coaches. I started swimming open water events when I was 13. It was incredibly enjoyable and to this day I still like swimming in the sea and the exhilarating feeling of getting into a cold dam or ocean. I enjoy endurance swimming.

Q: Who are you? Describe yourself as a person.

I don’t know who I am, but I know that I have a soft spot for the arts. I would like to pursue the arts. I enjoy the outdoors and there is a certain allure that plants hold. I am also a hardcore relaxer. I like relaxing and I have the innate ability to enjoy doing nothing.

Q: What is the highest accolade that you have achieved in Swimming and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?

My highest accolade in swimming is provincial colors for open water swimming. My greatest personal achievement is staying in the Cape Town water for 25 minutes without a wetsuit.

Q: So, you are a brilliant athlete – but name 1 thing that you suck at 🙂

Self-motivation.

Q: What do you do to relax?

I do extremely long hikes (90 km +)

Q: What is the value of Education in a young person’s life?

Education is the most powerful tool that any young person can have. Good education opens up many doors and enables the individual to contribute to the economy in a positive way and contribute to the good of the country. It is not only about the country. The individual gets a chance to enrich themselves and create a better life for themselves.

Q: What is your definition of success in life?

If you are in a space where you are happy and content.

Q: What is your biggest challenge, and what do you do to manage this challenge?

Getting out of my room. My room is not a bad place, so I bring the productivity to my room. Instead of going out of my room, I do positive things in my room.

Q: What’s your WHY ?  Why do you do what you do?

I would like to be remembered and I want to establish an appreciation for all the arts where people can learn that there is something other than sport and set an example of how sport and the arts are related and how they complement each other. It is important to have a balance in life and I want to inform people that it is not only sport that governs your life, but also the influence of arts; music and literature that can affect your sports life in a positive way.

Q: What are you most grateful for at the moment?

My family and the bed I sleep in.

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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Fresh & Hungry – Hanim Abrahams

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Hanim Abrahams is one of SA’s treasures in the sports arena where she is doing brilliantly in her young swimming carreer. She is full of joy and an influencer who leads by example wherever she finds herself.  She was proudly flag bearer at the recent Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas where she did our nation proud with her stunning achievements.

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She says “I would say that I am a very energetic person. I am an extrovert by nature, a very friendly and sociable person. A team player with a very competitive streak. I like to bring the GEES. Some would say I am bit weird…but I appreciate my bubbly nature. In the future I would like to retain my positive characteristics but I would like to be wiser and more mature”.

Athlete : Bio / Stats

Name & Surname     Hanim Abrahams

Nick Name                 Nims, Nim

Date of birth             10 March 2002

Place of birth             Cape Town, South Africa

Current City               Cape Town

Height                        1.70m

Weight                       60 kg

Shoe Size                   7

Club                            Curro Aquatics Durbanville

Coach’s Name            Warren Deyzel

Out of Country events / meets

Zambia (CANA Zone Two 2013)

Egypt (Junior African Swimming Championships 2015 and 2017)

Italy (Treviso Swimming Cup 2016)

Angola (Under 20 African Youth Games 2016)

Bahamas (Commonwealth Youth Games 2017)

Indianapolis (FINA Youth World Cup 2017)

Secondary Sports       Waterpolo, Netball and Cross country (all in the past)

Favourite City             Cape Town

Favourite Song           Martin Garrix & Troye Sivan- There for you

Favourite Movie        Moana

School & Grade          Herschel Senior Girls School, Grade 9

Sponsors                      I have no sponsorship. I do get support from Arena and Enduren nutritional products.

Instagram:                   @hanim_abrahams

Facebook:                    @Hanim Abrahams

Parents Names, siblings

Dad: Yusuf Abrahams

Mom: Kulsum Abrahams

Brother: Irshad Abrahams

Sister: Ammaarah Abrahams

Q: Firstly – you were proudly part of team SA recently at the Commonwealth Youth Games. On top of that Flag Bearer! How did you experience it?

To be a part of any South African team is a huge honour. Being the flag bearer was a real privilege and personally very exciting. I would like to thank SASCOC for affording me the opportunity to lead the team at the opening ceremony and for making the whole tour possible.

The experience was amazing. I got to experience the beautiful Bahamas. I’ve made some good friends not only with swimmers but with other unbelievable athletes too. I learnt to make the best of my opportunities on tour. I also learnt what the essence of a true team spirit means.

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 was introduced to swimming at a very young age. I started swimming lessons when I was about two years old. I would be in our pool whenever I could and my mom would have to haul me out. In grade R I tried out for the school swim team to be with my older sister. Many girls thought I was crazy as I tried out with the grade two’s.

I then started swimming at Cape Dolphins Aquatics (CADO) with renowned coach Brian Button at the age of six.

At the age of eleven I moved to Csanad Feldhausz at AquaSharks Academy (ASA). I loved swimming and training there and grew close to my team mates. I really thrived at ASA as I got National and WP records whilst at that club.

In 2013 at the age of eleven I was selected by Swimming SA to go to Zambia for the CANA Zone 2 competition. Throughout my time at ASA I was selected by Swimming SA to participate in Egypt, Italy and Angola.

The selections and results in summary are:

Junior African record holder in the 50 and 100m breaststroke (long course) for 13 and 15 year olds.

Achieved South African National 50m breaststroke records for 12, 13 and 14 year olds.

CANA Zone 2 Swimming Championships held in Zambia 2013. Gold in the 50, 100 and 200m breaststroke events.

In 2014 broke the South African National age group 50m breaststroke record for 12 year olds at the Western Province Swimming Championships.

In 2015 selected to represent South Africa at the Junior African Swimming Championships held in Cairo, Egypt. Won gold in the 50 and 100m breaststroke events in record times. Won silver in the 200 IM and was awarded a medal for being second overall in my age group.

The 100m breaststroke time of 1.11.93 was a new Western Province record. I missed the South African national record by 0.01 seconds.

In 2016 Swimming South Africa invited me to participate in the SA Swimming Grand Prix Series. This competition affords the elite South African swimmers an opportunity to race in four different cities over six weeks. At the age of 14 years I competed in the open age group category where I achieved a credible third place in the 50, 100 and 200m breaststroke events in the Nelspruit, Durban and Port Elizabeth legs of the competition.

At the SA Level 3 National Age Group Championships held in Port Elizabeth in March 2016 I won gold in the 50 and 100m breaststroke events. My 50m breaststroke time of 33.16 was a new national age group record. I also won silver in the 200m breaststroke, gold in the 100m butterfly, silver in the 200m butterfly, silver in 200m IM and bronze in the 400 IM.

The SA Senior National Swimming Championships held in Durban in April 2016 was billed as the Rio Olympic Trials. I broke the 50m breaststroke SA National age group record for 14 year olds with a time of 33.03. I made the 100m and 200m breaststroke finals with personal best times of 1:10.56 and 2:35.72 respectively. I also achieved a bronze medal in the 200m butterfly final.

In July of 2016 I was invited by Swimming South Africa to attend the Treviso Swimming Cup in Italy.  At this event I was awarded the best junior female swimmer award.

Selected to represent Senior SA Swim Team at the Senior African Swimming Championships in Bloemfontein in October 2016. Achieved silver medals in the 50 and 100m breaststroke events.

Selected to represent SA at the Youth under 20 Games held in Angola in December 2016. Achieved four golds, 1 silver and a bronze medal.

The SA Junior Swimming Championships was held in Durban from in March 2017.

I achieved the following placings:

1st in the 50m breaststroke, 1st in the 100m breaststroke, 2nd in the 200m breaststroke,

1st in the 100m butterfly, 3rd in the 200 butterfly and 2nd in the 200 IM.

Participated in the Junior African Swimming Championships held in Egypt in March 2017.

 

I was privileged to be selected as team captain for Team SA.

I achieved gold medals in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events at the Junior African Swimming Championships. These were all new Junior African records.

Also won silver in the 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m IM and 400m IM events.

As part of Team SA I also won gold for the 4x100m medley relay as well as the mixed 4x100m

medley relay. The relays were also won in new record times.

The SA Senior Swimming Championships were held in Durban in April 2017.

I won two youth elite medals for the 200m butterfly (silver) and 100m breaststroke (bronze) events.

Also won a silver medal for the 4x100m medley relay.

After Senior Nationals 2017 at the age of 15 years I moved to Curro Aquatics Durbanville with my current coach Warren Deyzel. I am really very happy at this club. The coaching staff, parents and swimmers are like a family. They are supportive and back each other. It is the ideal environment for a young swimmer like myself.

I participated in the Commonwealth Youth Games held in the Bahamas in July 2017.

These games are held every two years with various sporting codes represented.

SASCOC announced that I would be the flag bearer for the SA team at a ceremony prior to our departure.

At the games I won gold in the 100m breaststroke event with a time of 1.10.14 to set up a new SA age group record. I also won bronze in the 200m breaststroke and a credible fourth place in the 50m breaststroke event.

I followed my sister, Ammaarah into the world of competitive swimming. I also have a younger brother, Irshad in swimming. We have all had the honour of representing SA in swimming.

Q: Who are you? Describe yourself as a person. 

I would say that I am a very energetic person. I am an extrovert by nature, a very friendly and sociable person. A team player with a very competitive streak. I like to bring the GEES. Some would say I am bit weird…but I appreciate my bubbly nature. In the future I would like to retain my positive characteristics but I would like to be wiser and more mature.

Q: What is the highest accolade that you have achieved in swimming and what is your greatest personal accomplished?

 My highest achievement would be a gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bahamas in a national record time of 1.10.14 for the 100m breaststroke. I was very happy with this swim as it was a personal best.

My greatest personal accomplishment was being selected to captain the South African team at the Junior African Championships in Egypt 2017. This put me in a position of leadership and got me to really grow. This also meant that I had to be a role model to the younger athletes. As the captain I enjoyed motivating and encouraging my team mates. I wanted to encourage them to make our sport not so much about the individual but more about the team. This meant that we could all stand together as a team holding hands and singing the national anthem proudly.

Q: So, you are a brilliant athlete – but name 1 thing you suck at?

I suck at a lot of things. I am really not the best dancer. I honestly have two left feet when it comes to dancing.

Q: Favourite food and who must cook it?

Home-made pizza. My mom makes the best pizza.

Q: Value of Education in a young person’s life?

In the words of Nelson Mandela “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Q: What is your definition of success in life?

Success is about your relationship with the Almighty.

Success is also about your relationship with others.

“Learning to make a difference” is our school motto and I feel this really reflects on the definition of success in life.

We also all have aspirations and goals we set ourselves.

Q: What’s your WHY? Why do you do what you do? 

I have been blessed with swimming talent and it is something that I am passionate about.

I enjoy pushing boundaries, challenging myself and competing. Swimming has given me opportunities to meet people, experience places and different cultures.

The sport has also allowed me to develop and grow on a personal level.

Our nation and continent’s biggest asset is our youth. We need to guide our youth into sport and education. The lessons we learn in these areas will allow us to fulfill our true potential.

The example I would like to set is one of hard work and perseverance brings reward.

Q: What are you most grateful for at the moment?

 I am most grateful for my belief in the Almighty. I am also fortunate to have a supportive and loving family. I attend Herschel Girls School which is one of the best schools in the country. What a privilege to be a student there. My swim squad at Curro Aquatics is awesome and my coach, Warren Deyzel is amazing. I have a lot to be grateful for and for this I am truly thankful.

Q: Anything else you would like to share? 

I would just like to say keep smiling and always be positive!  🙂

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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Fresh & Hungry – Sune van Jaarsveld

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Sune van Jaarsveld is fresh, hungry, and deeply thoughtful of where she is in her young swimming carreer at the moment. She is much challenged, but definitely not defeated. Her perception of education is so rich, because it is inclusive on not only formal education and its value, but also of informal and life education. The latter being a much neglected area in raising a powerful next generation of successful adults in our country.

She says “I am a dedicated hard working girly girl.  I am very trustworthy as everybody confides in me and trust me with their secrets.  I am also a very loyal friend and will never betray your trust.  Smiley is my nickname as I always try to smile, even in the worst situations.  I always try to lighten up a bad situation.  Do not underestimate my kindness for being weak, as I am very focused and very goal orientated.  I give great hugs and massages!”.

Athlete: Bio / Stats
Name& Surname Sune van Jaarsveld
Nick Name Smiley/Sue/Soenmy/Sunetjie/Sussie/Sannie and my brother calls me “Vettie”
Date of birth 20 June 2001
Place of birth Pretoria
Current City Pretoria
Height 1.70
Weight 63kg
Shoe Size 7
Club TUKS
Coach’s Name Linda de Jager
Out of Country events/ meets CANA Zone 4 in Angola and twice to Mozambique on NTS tours
Secondary Sport/ sports It was hockey, but not anymore
Favorite City I like traveling and Hong Kong is always a favorite with Amsterdam a close second choice
Favorite Song/ type of music Spanish Pop and to name a few favorites:  Sucker for Pain, Wild thoughts, Rise Up
Favorite Movie Fathers and Daughters
School & Grade Die Hoerskool Menlopark Grade 10
Sponsors My Mom and Dad
Twitter and Instagram names, facebook name Sune.vj – Instagram

Sune van Jaarsveld – Facebook
Web site I do not have a website…..YET!
Parents Names, siblings Magdel, Riaan and my older brother Hano van Jaarsveld

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 brother took swimming lessons and I had to stand outside the pool and could only watch him through the sliding doors.  I remember I only wanted to go in and also swim.  Eventually the swimming coach allowed me to sit inside and watch my brother swim.  I was 2 years old.  That was the beginning.

Currently my journey is very difficult as there is way more “downs” than “ups” and being a 16 year old girl that is busy to grow does not make my swimming easier….

I progressed quickly through the levels and has been competing at SA Junior level, as well as SA Senior level.

Q: Who are you? Describe yourself as a person.

I am a dedicated hard working girly girl.  I am very trustworthy as everybody confides in me and trust me with their secrets.  I am also a very loyal friend and will never betray your trust.  Smiley is my nickname as I always try to smile, even in the worst situations.  I always try to lighten up a bad situation.  Do not underestimate my kindness for being weak, as I am very focused and very goal orientated.  I give great hugs and massages!

Q: What is the highest accolade that you have achieved in Swimming and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?

Being chosen for:

CANA Zone 4 team

SA Schools team

Competing at SA Junior and SA Senior

Personal Accomplishment – medaling in the Youth category during SA Seniors

Q: So, you are a brilliant athlete – but name 1 thing that you suck at 🙂

Table tennis and darts, but I am a very good pool player

Q: Favourite food and who must cook it ? ?

My mom’s tomato stew.  Also my own scramble egg concoction.

Q: Value of Education in a young person’s life?

It is very very important.  Not only formal education but also life skills and informal education.

Q: What is your definition of success in life?

Being the best person I can be and being a great friend.  Success is not about achievements, but about who you are.

Q: What’s your WHY ?  Why do you do what you do?

I cannot image my life without swimming, racing or going to training.  Swimming has sculptured me in who I am currently.

I would like to be a mentor for the younger girl swimmers in my squad to show them that you can push through hard times and adversity.  I want the younger swimmers to realize that you never give up and that just train harder.

When I end my swimming career, I would like people to say:  “Sune was a great sportswoman and ambassador for swimming.”

Q: What are you most grateful for at the moment?

That I am injury free and the support of my parents.  Also for my new Polaroid instant camera.

Q: Anything else you would like to share?

I love my coach Linda….but I sometimes dislike her a lot, especially during hard training sessions and will tell her that.

Without her support I would not have been the swimmer I am currently.

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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Fresh & Hungry – Felicity Passon

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Felicity Passon, is real girl power and determination in action. She hails proudly from the beautiful Nation Seychelles. Her early life is shaped by sacrifice, the hard sacrificing of leaving home and kindred to go out into world in pursuit of her dream of becoming a great swimmer. Yet despite all the odds against her, she continues to do our African Continent proud by her sterling performances and results in the swimming pool. She is also proudly a Youth Olympian and has just recently competed at the Fina World Champs in Budapest.

She says “I think that I’m quite a determined and motivated person. I work hard in the things I’m passionate about, and if I really want something I go out and get it. In May 2016, just after competing at SA nationals I underwent a minor heart surgery (an ablation) to sort out a problem I had been dealing with for a while- Supra Ventricular tachycardia. I was out of training for a while before the procedure and after it as well. I think that was the point in which I was my most determined. I hated seeing everyone being able to swim and train and not me. I thought I was getting left behind, and I would have too much catching up to do when I got back in- if I got back in. But it all made me stronger, I was determined not to let anything stop me from achieving my goals”.

 

Athlete: Bio / Stats
Name & Surname Felicity Passon
Date of birth 11th July 1999
Place of birth Dubai, U.A.E
Current City Plymouth, U.k
Height 173cm
Weight 65 kg
Shoe Size UK 6  (EU 40)
Club Plymouth Leander
Coach’s Name Robin Armayan
Out of Country events Upcoming: World Championships in Budapest 2017 (also 2013-2016)

SA Nationals: 2014, 2016, 2017
Secondary Sport Swimming, Running
Favorite City Barcelona
Favorite Movie South Paw
School & Grade Plymouth College- Just finished my final year (A-Levels) Starting Uni in August 2017
Instagram names

Facebook name

 Insta: felicity_passon

Facebook: Felicity Passon
Parents Names, siblings Mum: Lydvine Passon, Dad: Neil Puresh, Sister: Charlotte Passon

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 began training and swimming competitively when I was about 12 or 13. Competing at small local competitions, then internationally. (see question 4 and 2)

Q: Who are you?

I think that I’m quite a determined and motivated person. I work hard in the things I’m passionate about, and if I really want something I go out and get it. In May 2016, just after competing at SA nationals I underwent a minor heart surgery (an ablation) to sort out a problem I had been dealing with for a while- Supra Ventricular tachycardia. I was out of training for a while before the procedure and after it as well. I think that was the point in which I was my most determined. I hated seeing everyone being able to swim and train and not me. I thought I was getting left behind, and I would have too much catching up to do when I got back in- if I got back in. But it all made me stronger, I was determined not to let anything stop me from achieving my goals.

Q: What is the highest accolade that you have achieved in Swimming and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?

Achieving a world championship qualifying time in the 50m back, and qualifying for Youth Olympics in 2014.

Q: You are studying away from home – how are you experiencing this?

I left home at a young age to pursue my swimming career. I trained in South Africa for 4 months, without being at school in 2014, by myself. It was tough but it made me realize that once my 4 months was up and I had to return to home, even if I missed it so much I knew that if I wanted to go further with my swimming I would have to leave home. I then began school in Thailand at the British International School Phuket on a full scholarship. They had a great swimming program. After a year of that I moved to the UK to Plymouth, and began my 2 year journey which is now sadly coming to an end.

Q: In your opinion, what is the value of Education in a young person’s life?

I think that education is extremely important. You have it for the rest of your life and it opens up more opportunity for you in the world.

Q: So you swim well and are doing well in academics but name 1 thing that you suck at 🙂

Hmmm one thing I suck at… Video Games- No co-ordination what-so-ever. My breaststroke is the worst thing ever- it’s basically illegal.

Q: What’s your WHY ? 

Coming from a small island with limited resources, I feel like I have so much to fight for to prove myself to everyone and the world that I can be just as good as a lot of people. Starting from the bottom, where I used to get absolutely thrashed when I competed internationally, I used to be so intimidated, to now being better or on the same level as those same girls.

I hope that I can have a positive influence on younger athletes- it doesn’t matter where you come from, it’s what you make of yourself, you just have to fight for yourself and what you believe.

Q: Plans for 2018?

I’m starting university in America this summer in Texas- SMU. I’m really looking forward to the American college and swimming experience. I also plan on competing at Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

Felicity Passon of Seychelles competes in the women’s 100m butterfly heat during the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, 15 December 2012. Photo: Hannibal/dpa +++(c) dpa – Bildfunk+++

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!

Home Proudly South African Swimming

Arizona Wildcats’ two-decade run produced some of top male swimmers on the planet

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3 South Africans in University of Arizona Top 10 list of men’s swimmers

During Arizona’s 20-year run as one of the NCAA’s leading swimming powers, 1993-2012, the Wildcats recruited globally to match any of the national contenders.

South Africa. Venezuela. England. Israel. Mexico. France. Brazil.

In 2004, then-UA assistant coach Augie Busch noted the impressive times of a Venezuelan swimming at a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, academy. Albert Subirats had moved to America in part to learn English, get a scholarship to an NCAA school and work toward the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Now, Augie Busch has returned to Tucson — his official press conference is Tuesday afternoon at McKale Center — intent on reopening the global recruiting lanes that helped turn Arizona swimming into a consistent NCAA championship contender.

Here’s our Top 10 list of UA men’s swimmers, which reflects the foreign influence of the Frank Busch years:

1. Ryk Neethling. The South African distance freestyler won nine NCAA individual championships, second in Pac-12 history. He then converted to sprints and helped South Africa win a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the 4×100 freestyle relay.

2. Albert Subirats. A three-time Olympian with six Venezuelan records, Subirats became such a celebrity in his home country that a newspaper headline read “SUBIRATS BRONCE!” – something like ‘‘Subirats is king” – after leading Arizona to the national championship.

3. Kevin Cordes. Although he missed a 2016 Olympic bronze medal by inches, Cordes won six NCAA individual championships at Arizona and has been America’s leader in the breaststroke on and off dating to 2013. He was twice the Pac-12’s men’s swimmer of the year.

4. George DiCarlo. His gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a tip that UA swimming was a rising power. He won two NCAA championships in the 500 freestyle.

6. Simon Burnett. Recruited from Great Britain, Burnett won the NCAA freestyle in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and helped four UA relay teams win NCAA titles.

7. Chad Carvin. America’s 1997 men’s swimmer of the year won two NCAA individual titles at Arizona, set three American records and made the 2000 Sydney Olympics team, assisting on a gold medal relay team.

8. Seth Pepper. Part of Busch’s building years at Arizona, Pepper won the 1993 men’s 100 butterfly and added a second and two third place finishes in the NCAA finals. His brother, Martin Pepper, won the 1996 NCAA 100 butterfly.

9. Mariusz Podkoscielny. The Polish distance swimmer was a standout for Busch’s first UA team after winning the 1989 NCAA title in the 1,650 freestyle. He added a second-place finish in 1990 and a pair of No. 3 finishes in later seasons and became the head coach at Oregon State and Miami of Florida.

10. Darian Townsend. After transferring to Tucson from the Florida Gators, Townsend, of South Africa, won the NCAA title in the 200 freestyle in 2008, was second a year earlier and was part of four NCAA championship relay teams.

by  Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star

Home Sports Swimming

Australia’s best young swimmers get first dibs at world class technology in Canberra

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Future swimming stars have descended on the capital as Swimming Australia looks to discover the next Ian Thorpe or Libby Trickett ahead of the world junior championships in August.

Twenty-two athletes have travelled from all over the country to spend the week learning from Olympic athletes experiencing the best sports technology the AIS has to offer as part of the NextGEN Australian Commonwealth Games camp.

Members of the Swimming Australia NextGEN Squad pose for a group photo with former Olympian Matt Abood during their camp at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra, Australia on Thursday 6 July 2017. NextGEN Australian Commonwealth Games camp members with Matt Abood. Photo: Ben Southall

Olympic bronze medallist Matt Abood will be on hand to mentor the group as they are exposed the rising stars to the most innovative technology at the AIS, including 3D motion capture technology and underwater cameras.

Even the national swimming team hasn’t used some of the technology before but Swimming Australia’s high performance pathway manager Jamie Salter isn’t heaping pressure on the next generation.

“We don’t put any expectation on medal targets,” Salter said.

 ​”We are able to take video footage from numerous angles and get instantaneous analysis.

“We are also looking at 3D motion capture whilst we do get all the video footage it just provides us with deeper analysis of whats going on in the stroke.”

Ranging from 13 to 18 years old, the aspiring athletes were selected to be part of the week-long trip following their performances at the Australian age championships in April.

The pathway system has enjoyed plenty of success over the past four years, with over 80 medals won from youth teams – over 40 percent of those being gold – at major events.

The success didn’t stop at a youth level however, with 30 swimmers from the squad moving on to represent Australia in major international teams including Rio gold medallist Kyle Chalmers.

The young group hasn’t been exposed to the high tech world of modern sports before and Salter says the experience will enable them to become better in the pool.

“They haven’t been exposed to too much of this sports phsycology and nutrition before,” Salter said.

“It’s just giving them an awareness on how phycology and additional support can help them and how they can build on it.”

Despite having world class technology at their disposal, the program isn’t aiming to improve times – it aims to build the devolving athlete’s resilience.

“It’s not that they are swimming fast, it’s the manner that they are swimming,” Salter said.

“It’s the resilience that they show and their ability to put in a performance when it counts.”

With the world at their feet and Australia’s best resources in front of them, Australian swimming is at an exciting cross roads.

With the young group still bonding a growing as a team, it is still a long road until Tokyo 2020 but the future looks bright for Australian swimming.

“That’s the bit that excites me the most, it’s the passion that they bring to the pool every day even though we are still eight weeks away from the junior world championship,” Salter said.

“For me its a very very exciting journey we are starting on.”

by CanberraTimes

Home Interviews Sports Swimming

Fresh & Hungry: Khwezi Duma

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Khwezi Duma is a one of SA’s youth stars in swimming. She speaks with much humility and gratefulness for her journey in swimming so far. She is thankful and respectful towards her parents and coaches who support her constantly.  She has had the honour to represented our beautiful rainbow Nation at many occasions.

She says “I am hard working and self-driven to finish the tasks ahead of me and to achieve my goals. I am a child of God and I always try to live my life accordingly. I live with my mom, dad, my 13 year old sister and my 21 year old sister in Kloof, Durban”.

Her favourite quote is deeply motivational “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is the strength. – Arnold Schwarzenegger

 

Name & Surname Khwezi Duma
Nick Name Khwe-Khwe / Khwez / Khwezi Khwez
Date of birth 12 September 2001
Place of birth Parklane Clinic Johannesburg
Current City Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal
Height 173 cm
Weight 53 Kgs
Shoe Size UK 7
Club Seagulls Swimming Club
Coach’s Name Graham Hill
Out of Country events/ meets I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to compete in these numerous tournament outside South Africa.

2012        CANA Zone 3&4 held in Maputo, Mozambique

2014     Australian Age Group Nationals, Sydney, Australia

2014        AUSC Region 5 Under 20 Games held in Bulawayo,      Zimbabwe

2015        Treviso Swim Cup, Venice, Italy

2015       Pescara Swimming Championships, Pescara, Rome

2015       African Junior Championship, Cairo, Egypt

2016        Treviso Swim Cup, Venice, Italy

2016       AUSC Region 5 Under 20 Games, Luanda, Angola

2017        African Junior Championship held in Cairo, Egypt

2017      Mare Nostrum Series – Monaco & Barcelona leg ( XXXVe Meeting International de Natation)
Secondary Sport/ sports I enjoy running and playing tennis.
Favorite City California
Favorite Song I enjoy listening to Beyoncé and Drake.
School & Grade Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School, Grade 10
Sponsors Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
Instagram

Facebook

 Instagram: khwezzzduma

Facebook: Khwezi Duma
 
Parents Names, siblings Mother – Yoliswa Duma

Father – Justice Duma

Older sister – Nothando Duma

Younger sister – Kuhle Duma

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 really enjoy every second I spend in the water swimming, I honestly don’t know what I would do with myself if I didn’t take part in the sport. I enjoy every moment. I love the training, especially when it’s hard because it allows me to push my boundaries by getting out of my comfort zone and I really get surprised when I produce personal best times in training. I love traveling and the amount of opportunities it gives to meet new people, go to new countries and experience new cultures, and how can I forget about the racing? It’s my absolute favorite moment in my career because all the hours, blood, sweat and tears all come down to a couple of races that only last a few seconds. I started swimming in 2009 when I was 7 years old Hartfield Swimming Club, in Kloof, KZN just to gain the necessary water safety skills. In 2011, at the age of 9, I started swimming more frequently after I joined the Seagulls Swimming Club and started training with Delon Dannhauser and Graham Hill and ever since then I’ve been addicted to the water. I honestly love being trained at Seagulls by Delon and Graham because they always push and guide me towards my swimming successes. I also love spending time with my training partners because we lift each other up and bring out the best in each other.

Q: You have been proudly part of Team SA before representing our beautiful nation, where did you go what did that feel like?

I’ve been very blessed to have the opportunity to represent our rainbow nation in numerous events out of South Africa. In 2012 I had the privilege of being selected by Swimming South Africa to represent our Country in Maputo, Mozambique for the CANA Zone 3 and 4 Swimming Championships. Although, I was 10 years old and the youngest in this tournament, I loved racing and meeting new people.  My highlights of this championship was winning a Silver Medal in the 200m Backstroke, a Bronze Medal in the 100m backstroke, 4th place in the 50m Backstroke and in the 200m IM and placed 5th in the 100m Butterfly. I enjoyed this tour even through it was a bit scary for me as a natural introvert, I tend to be more reserved.

I then represented South Africa for the second time in 2014 at the AUSC Region 5 under 20 Games in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe where I got the opportunity to witness so many S.A. Age Group records being broken and I also got to watch South African seniors race at an elite level. I competed in the 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke and 200m Backstroke as well as the 50m Butterfly and 100m Butterfly and 50m Freestyle and 100m Freestyle. This was such an honor as it was my first time wearing the Green and Gold National Tracksuit,

In 2015, I represented South Africa in the Junior African Championships held in Cairo, Egypt. I met many new people and made new friends which whom I share the memories from this tour with. I competed in the 50m Backstroke, 100m backstroke as well as the 50m butterfly and the 100m butterfly. I placed third in the 100m butterfly and won a bronze medal and I also came second in the 100m backstroke and won a silver medal.

I was selected again in 2016 to be part of the team competing in the AUSC (African Union Sports Council) Region 5 Under 20 Youth Games in Angola. I competed in the 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke, 200m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly and 100m Butterfly. I was very proud of myself when I made it to the finals of the 100m backstroke and swam personal bests in all my other events as well.

In March 2017 I was selected to be part of a team to compete in the African Junior Championship held in Cairo, Egypt. I competed in the 50m Backstroke and 100m Backstroke and won a Bronze medal for the 50m Backstroke.

Q: Who are you? 

I’m a 15 year old Grade 10 student at Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School, a swimmer at Seagulls Swimming Club under the leadership of Graham Hill and Delon Dannhauser. I am hard working and self-driven to finish the tasks ahead of me and to achieve my goals. I am a child of God and I always try to live my life accordingly. I live with my mom, dad, my 13 year old sister and my 21 year old sister in Kloof, Durban.

Q: What is the highest accolade that you have achieved in Swimming and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?

My highest accolade was competing in the Mare Nostrum Series and swimming in the B finals in the Monaco leg and improving my personal best times in the Barcelona leg. I swam the 100m Butterfly, 100m Backstroke as well as the 50m Backstroke in the B finals of the Monaco leg.

Khwezi with Bronte Campbel in Monaco

Q: Why do you have so much love and respect for your coachs?

I have so much respect for my swimming and conditioning coaches because they are inspiring and always motivating me and for the time that I have worked with them they have taught me a lot in and out of the pool.

Q: What is your favorite food? And who must cook it 🙂 ?

Prawn stir-fry with spinach and mushrooms. Cooked by my mom.

Q: So you swim well and are doing well in academics but name 1 thing that you suck at 🙂

I’m really bad at table tennis because I’ve got quite bad hand – eye coordination and I can’t get the ball quick enough.

Q: What is your personal favorite motivational quote?

Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is the strength. – Arnold Schwarzenegger

Q: What is your favourite Bible?

1 Corinthians 16:13 – Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

Psalm 23:1 –The lord is my Shepard, I lack nothing.

Q: What is your definition of success in life?

Success is being able to do what you love and reach your goals while enjoying the process.

Q: What’s your WHY?  

I swim because the water is my happy place and when I’m swimming I just forget about all that stresses me as I am in my element. I see myself having a major influence on the continents youth by guiding other young people and I hope to be somebody’s role model or mentor in the near future.

Q: Anything else you would like to share?

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to take this interview and I one day hope to inspire other young athletes.

 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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