Nelson Mandela Bay’s Newton Park Swimming Pool was the place to be this last 12-16 March 2015, as they hosted the SA Level 3 National Swimming Championships.
The young Ruan Breytenbach, aged 12 made his debut at this highly competitive South African National Swimming Champs. He had all heads turning in his direction as he went full force, with much excitement and totally fearless for each and every race.
Ruan was well prepared on all fronts by his two brilliant Hillcrest Swimming Club coaches, Leon Anderson and Marcus Gloak. Ruan’s culmination of hard work and dedication shined through when he brought home 7 silver and 3 bronze medals, improved all his times, broke 6 NTS records and 1 SA record. He smashed the following NTS Records: 100m, 200m Butterfly; 200m IM; 100m, 200m Breaststroke and 400m Freestyle. He also co-broke the SA record for 100m Butterfly.
With this type of stellar performance at such a big event, all I can say is “watch out world – here comes Ruan”. Also read more about this well rounded youth here, when we interviewed him a while back.
These are Ruan’s words of encouragement to other young athletes, a firm truth that he himself reads and internalises each and every time before a race, since his very first race:
“DO NOT LIMIT YOURSELF. MANY PEOPLE LIMIT THEMSELVES TO WHAT THEY THINK THEY CAN DO. YOU CAN GO AS FAR AS YOUR MIND LETS YOU. WHAT YOU BELIEVE, REMEMBER, YOU CAN ACHIEVE”. Mary Kay Ash
Below is a “visual tour” of Ruan’s Level 3 Swimming Champs 2015
