It has been a hectic past two weeks, with our entire household centering around all things swimming. I have not kept a day by day log of happenings. Thus this is just broad brush stoke reflections of events.
NTS Swimming Championships – 4 to 8 December 2014
A very well organised gala this year with very smooth flowing administration, this made such a difference, despite the daily load shedding! Swimmers were in excellent shape and it was good to see them enjoying the fruit of their year’s labour. Some long standing records came tumbling down, smashed by the likes of Ruan Breytenbach, and others. Well done swimmers!
Jonathan also did very well. He qualified to swim in the finals each evening for all the heats that he swam in during the day. He medaled in 8 out of 12 finals.
Simon and many other diligent parents and supporters paid their dues by offering themselves up as officials to time keep, despite the hot sun and typical Gauteng summer storms.
Sitting around a pool for what feels like hundreds of hours makes one reflect on the year of training and preparation that culminates in the pool at a championship. Pause moments like these breeds new ideas, strategies, things to twitch and good insights for the way forward. As Simon keeps reminding me – “we are in this for the long haul”.
Now it is over to the pictures to tell the rest of the story!
Jono’s Coach Hendrick
Quiet moment of contemplation
Ready for take off
Take your marks
Medal time!
Happiness is…
Mission accomplished
National School Sport Championship 2014 – 10 to 15 December 2014
Firstly – congratulations to the Entire Team Gauteng who was the overall winner (there were 14 sports involved) they came in 1st in 2012, 2013 and now 2014! Sweet, sweet victory!
The games were aptly themed: “Today’s athletes, tomorrow’s legends”. Pretoria hosted 10 000 young participants from all over the country.
Team Gauteng was accommodated at the University of Pretoria (TUKS) hostels. After trying our utmost to find out what the experience was of hostel life from Jonathan and peers, two phrases were learned:
- What happened in Madelief stays in Madelief. (Female residence at TUKS)
- Life is much easier without moms naggings us to bath, brush teeth and go to bed by 8:00!
Below some pictures of the Swimming Side of the Championships
Ready
Steady
Go!
Gone!
Smile for the Paparazzi
Supporting Team Gauteng
Hillcrest – Home of the NTS champs
Officials at work
New friendships forged
