Fun loving guy

Shireen Shapiro wins Bronze in the 100m backstroke final… Day 6 of the London 2012 Paralympics. PHOTO HERMAN VERWEY MEDIA24

Michael’s cousins with Chad and Michael

Which athlete/ athletes inspire you? The Awesome Foursome – Ryk Neethling, Roland Schoeman, Darian Townsend, Lyndon Ferns – who won gold in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. These guys proved to me at a young age that South African swimmers could go and compete with the best in the world and come out victorious!

Travelling outside SA has also made me appreciate our beautiful country as well as and everyone back at home.

Calvyn Justus

Football

As a younger champ

Travelling put me in many different environments, and that made me even want to train much harder.

The highest accolade that I have achieved was to represent my country at high level World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

Steady

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND. 26 July 2014. Commonwealth Games, swimming Day Three. Chad le Clos, gold medal and Sebastion Rousseau, bronze medal in the 100m fly. Copyright picture by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN / SASPA

Meeting Elvis Blue at his concert after first swimming an NTS Age Group Gala

My sister and I with Karin returning from London 2012

Medal time!

The Olympic Flag flies in front of “Christ the Redeemer” statue during a blessing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro August 19, 2012. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

I leave home at 4:50 am, go for morning training, then school, then back to training and finally return home by 6:45 pm and then homework starts.

Myles Brown

Michael in his 3 stripes.

Champion swimmer.

Matthew Meyer Olympic Trials

Matthew Meyer

Cameronvd Burgh 4 and Jarred Crous 5, both set Olympic qualifying times ine 20m breaststroke.

About Hard Times: “Fall down 7 times get up 8!! Always do what makes you happy and if you have a passion for that sport and love it, it will make those difficult patches a lot easier to handle”.

As the years progressed I have gone to places like Scotland, Spain, France, Netherlands, Dubai, Australia and China competing with the best athletes in the world.

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Getting to practice with Penny’s medals!

Shireen Shapiro wins Bronze in the 100m backstroke final… Day 6 of the London 2012 Paralympic. PHOTO HERMAN VERWEY MEDIA24

Irvette van Zyl Foto: DEAAN VIVIER

…but my greatest personal accomplishment would definitely be breaking Ryk Neethling’s Long and Short course 400m Freestyle national records.

Read for take off!

Carla Johnson (18) is passionate about sports and she is appealing for a good Samaritan to sponsor her so that she doesn’t miss any more competitions PHOTO: TIYESE JERANJI

Jonathan

100m back stroke medalist

Gone!

Zane Waddell prior to the Men 100m long course backstroke finals at the SA National Aquatic Championships 2016 in Durban. PHOTO: STEVE HAAG

I try to plan my days really meticulously and stick close to that plan. It helps to put everything into perspective.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, GREECE – 20 APRIL:Katerina Lehou, who plays the role of high priestess pass the flame to the olympic torch at the Ancient Olympia site during a rehearsal for the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Rio 2o16 Olympic Games Olympic Games on April 2o in Olympia, Greece. The torch was lit using the rays of the sun in the ancient sanctuary where the Olympic Games were started in 776 BC, near the temple of Hera. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption***

Proudly team Gauteng

New friendships forged

Power Start

GABORONE, BOTSWANA. 28 MAY 2014. African Youth Games which take place in Gaborone from 22 May until 31 May. Athletics. Copyright picture by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN / SASPA

Jarred Crous

NANJING, CHINA. 25 August 2014. Youth Olympic Games taking place in Nanjing, China. Athletics. South Africa’s Jo-An van Dyk. Copyright picture by Wander Roberto / SASPA

Quiet Moment of contemplation.

What Next for Carla: “To be better than what I was the last time and to prove to those who said I wouldn’t make it that I’m strong enough to do better”.

Go!

Quiet moment of contemplation.

Getting ready for 100m back final

Douglas Erasmus in the Men 100m Freestyle Semi Finals during day 4 of the SA National Aquatic Championships 2016 at Kings Park Aquatic Centre on April 13, 2016 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

Carissa and Dune at OR Tombo 1st International Tour

The late Jeanne Davin with Daniela

“…a girl that have had the opportunity to represent South Africa at the World Championships, Youth Olympics and Common Wealth Games through the guidance of my coach Igor Omeltchenko”.

Swimming mates

Perfection

My name is Devon Myles William Brown, but most people know me as Myles. The reason for this is that it is a family tradition that the first-born son of each generation is called by their second name as well as taking the name William.

NTS Champs 2014

MAMMA I MADE IT: Matthew Meyer swam a qualifying time to represent SA in the 1500m at the Rio Games during the SA National Aquatic Champs at the weekend Image by: Supplied

Academic

Fun with good friendies

Michael in full flight

Rachel with Coach Gerhard Zandberg

Queen of the Swimming Pool

Sisterly love.

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!

Medals and trophys

Rebecca Meder and Trisha Pollicutte with me on the podium for 50 Fly

Supporting Team Gauteng

Michael is very fond of Achmat and they are now GoPro buddies.

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 18: Jonathan Draai of Eastern Province during the match between Eastern Province vs South Western Districts at NMMU B during day 3 of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week on December 18, 2015 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images)

A day at the beach in SA

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”.

Awards received at the 2015 NTS Gala Evening

Karin with Coach Igor Omeltchenko

December 2009

Rene’s dad – Ian

Myles Olympic Trials

Champion by land and by water

Matthew Meyer

Achmat Hasseim, a Paralympian from South African arrives at Terminal 1 of Heathrow Airport in London.

Carissa and Chad le Clos Speedo Prestige July 2013

Karin in full flight

Podium photo 100m back

Take your marks

Proudly Team Gauteng

NANJING, CHINA. 25 August 2014. Youth Olympic Games taking place in Nanjing, China. Athletics. South Africa’s Jo-An van Dyk. Copyright picture by Wander Roberto / SASPA

50m back podium photo

SA Champion Medalists.

Karin doing her brilliant backstroke thing

True Leader: Head Girl 2015

Michael with dad in the beautiful Drakensberg

Podium photo 4 x 100m Medley relay

Ruan Tweeted: “Tuks Olympian and role model to many @PrinslooKarin crowded by excited young swimmers for her autograph #inspiration”.

Happiness is…

Durban South Africa – December Saturday 19th, GV during the 2015 KZN Premier Championships. KINGS PARK POOL COMPLEX – MASABALALA YENGWA AVE -DURBAN,Saturday 19th December till Sunday 20st December 2015.(Photo by Steve Haag)images for social media must have consent from Steve Haag

Achmat Hasseim, a Paralympian from South African arrives at Terminal 1 of Heathrow Airport in London.

There is a huge sense of pride when you get to represent the people of South Africa, especially when you see the flag on your swimming cap before you go out to race.

On top of my swimming I always like to be active, so I really enjoy my surfing and golf.

Andrew Clan

René Kalmer Foto: GETTY IMAGES

Ultimately I am working towards next year’s Olympic Games and hopefully my dream will become a reality.

I love Kansas, I love our home in Kansas, and I love the fact that I’m so blessed to have a pool in my back yard to be able to do what I love.

Devon Myles William Brown, is on a roll, on an unstoppable siege as he takes the world by storm.

Ready, Steady, GO!!

Ruan Ras: A true Youth Sports Ambassador.

The highest accolade that I have achieved was to represent South Africa at the Common Wealth Games and Youth Olympics last year.

Achmat Hasseim, a Paralympian from South African arrives at Terminal 1 of Heathrow Airport in London.

Frank Heslop

Having faith in who God is, is one of the biggest things you could ever do. Always believe that you are a conqueror and with God everything is possible.

Michael’s Dad – Peter

Right now, all my energy is focused on my training and keeping my body in the best shape possible for the World Championships in Kazan, Russia, in August. This in turn is preparation for the 2016 Olympics in Rio next year.

The moment when Crous realised he’d just beaten the qualifying time for the Rio Olympics! Photo Credit / Anesh Debiky/Swim SA

I have learned how to stay focused, how to communicate with people speaking different languages and manage long periods of time without my family.

I have been swimming for the past 15 years and have loved every minute of it, even during the extremely tough and difficult phases.

Underwater fun!

My highest accolade was when I went to the World Junior Champs in the USA for the long jump and Ethiopia where I competed against the Commonwealth winner, and still got a silver medal.

Michael Phelps & Michael

Carissa and Mom Speedo Prestige July 2013 1st SA Nationals Record 50m backstroke

Irvette van Zyl . Picture: BACKPAGEPIX

Joining Karin for sponsor duty

My biggest challenge is to make it to the big Olympics one day…and because of that I’m training and giving my all to achieve that.

Rene Warnes – Proudly South African.

Proudly Team SA

Life’s awesome and if I live in a bubble, it’s a bubble I wish a lot of people could enjoy with me!

Best piece of advice I’ve ever been given “swim for you and for no one else”.

Heslop Sports

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, GREECE – 21 APRIL: Priestessperforme during the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame for the Rio Olympic Games at the Ancient Olympia site on April 21, 2016 in Olympia, Greece. Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame from Ancient Olympia on relay through Greece for eight days before a hand-over ceremony at Panathenian Stadium in Athens. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption***

Ready for take off

Karin looking all relaxed

Grecia – Olimpia – 21/04/2016 – REVEZAMENTO DA TOCHA OLIMPICA RIO 2016 – Cerimônia de acendimento da Chama Olímpica Rio 2016 e início do revezamento grego no sítio arqueológico do Templo de Hera. Na foto, o segundo condutor do revezamento grego, Giovane Gávio. Foto: Rio2016/Andre Luiz Mello

Two Champions – Michael with Sissy Michaela

I love rocking my heels and modeling when no one is around to see.

Proud champion.

This is possibly the most important part of an athlete’s career. This is when you need to have all the self belief in yourself and what you are doing, and with this self belief you will be able to rise from any “difficult patch”.

Matric Dance 2015

Football

Smile for the Paparazzi

Hahaha, it would probably be that I am very quiet and an introverted person, so often I think people take it as me being upset, in a bad mood or arrogant even, which is not the case I hope…

Terug Spele toe? René Kalmer hardloop vier jaar gelede in die marathon op die Olimpiese Spele in Londen verby die Olimpiese ringe wat op die pad geverf is. Sy en Irvette van Zyl hoop om Sondag in die Londen-marathon weer vir die Spele te kwalifiseer.Foto: AP

Ready

Karin and I being interviewed by Speedo

100m back podium photo