Champion swimmer transfers skills to future stars

With a career spanning over 12 years in international competitions, Olympian Douglas Erasmus is now dedicating his time to producing future swimming stars.

“A sport chooses you, not the other way around. I say those words with direct relation to passion, desire and enjoyment.

“Those three things are important if you are going to be dedicated to something,” explained Erasmus.

“It takes a lot of commitment, hours and sacrifices. So those factors need to be high attributes on your list because if those factors are not pulling you into the sport, then you won’t be willing to sacrifice and put in the hours,” he added.

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Growing up, he enjoyed swimming as a child, but it wasn’t until 2004, while watching South Africa’s Olympic team win gold in Athens, that he set his sights on the ultimate goal – becoming an Olympian.

And just 12 years later, he achieved that dream.

Reflecting on the experience, he said, “If I had known the amount of work it would take, I might have laughed at the thought. But in hindsight, everything was worth it.”

Swimming, Douglas explained, is not just about the joy of the sport but about a continuous process of self-improvement and sacrifice.

He also acknowledged that the road to the Olympics wasn’t easy and required immense commitment, often at the cost of missing family gatherings and special occasions.

His path to the Olympics wasn’t an easy one. He only started with competitive swimming at the age of 15.

His goal was to qualify for the junior nationals and then the senior nationals. “I never saw myself as an Olympic gold medalist. For me, just making it to the Olympics was the goal.”

That goal, however, proved more challenging than he anticipated. After years of competing in senior nationals, it wasn’t until the 12th senior nationals that he finally qualified for the Olympics, marking the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

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On giving up he said, “I was addicted to the process of progression. I was addicted to bettering myself.”

After retiring from competitive swimming in 2020, he turned to coaching, a natural progression fueled by his love for the sport.

He began giving back to the community through clinics, teaching aspiring swimmers the techniques that helped him succeed.

Through this process, he found his true passion which is coaching.

“I love teaching others how to progress and better themselves. It’s a powerful feeling to guide someone through the journey I went through.”

In January 2023, he took over the swimming programme at the Italian Sporting Club with Cardinals Italia Swimming Club.

Since then, the club has grown from five athletes to 64.

Despite the demanding nature of coaching, he said he feels incredibly blessed by the opportunity.

Looking ahead, he is focused on expanding the club’s offerings.

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“The next step is to develop a Learn to Swim programme, and that’s something I’m working on now,” he said.

For him, it’s all about building a strong foundation for swimmers of all levels, starting from the very basics.

His commitment extends beyond the pool.

His deep understanding of human movement science, combined with his business management and marketing degrees, has enabled him to successfully run the swimming club while continuing to grow as a coach.

With such a demanding role, his days are long and often involve early mornings, but he remains dedicated to his athletes.

“I’m here at 5:30 every morning, and the job is taxing,” he said.

His mornings are filled with training sessions for both junior and senior squads, with the senior athletes preparing for national and international competitions, including the junior and senior nationals and future Olympic Games.

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Despite the long hours and little family time, he remains committed to the success of his athletes, knowing that the rewards of the sport come from the effort and sacrifices made along the way.

With his eyes set on the future, he continues to inspire the next generation of swimmers at Cardinals Italia Swimming Club, preparing them for the challenges and rewards that lie ahead.

As the club continues to grow and develop, his vision is clear to foster not only great athletes but well-rounded individuals who understand the importance of hard work, discipline, and progression.