Holy Rosary swimmer dominates championships

At 14 years old, Zuria Venter is already carving out a name for herself in the swimming world.

At seven, she took up swimming.

The Holy Rosary School learner said her dad inspired her love for swimming.

He taught her how to dive into the pool.

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“It just became part of my life. I liked being in the water, working with people, and the feeling of competition,” explained Zuria.

Her dedication has seen her training nine times a week, balancing rigorous swimming sessions with school and social life—a feat she admits is not easy but manageable with discipline.

She recently competed in the aQuellé Midmar Mile in KwaZulu-Natal.

Despite initial nerves, she performed well, placing sixth.

“I felt scared but also excited when I got onto the boat. I just tried to enjoy it,” she shared.

She credits much of her mental preparation to a fellow swimmer Matthew Caldwell, who offered tips and encouragement.

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Zuria’s physical preparation was equally intense.

She attended an open-water clinic led by Olympic gold medalist Sharon van Rouwendaal, where she learned techniques for turns, lifting her head, and improving her stroke.

“The clinic helped me a lot with my open-water swimming,” she said.

Looking ahead, Zuria’s aspirations include qualifying for junior worlds when she turns 17 and representing South Africa at more international competitions.

“The Olympics one day would be amazing but I still have time for that.

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I want to represent South Africa more, so I am taking every opportunity I can to represent South Africa,” she said.
Her next challenge is the Grand Prix in Port Elizabeth.

She also targets a junior world title in the 400m individual medley this year.

One key to Zuria’s progress is her training with the Cardinals Italia Swimming Club under coach Douglas Erasmus.

“Douglas is an amazing coach, and I swam with him for about two years now.”

For Zuria, swimming has life-long benefits.

“It is a good life skill to have and is also social. You get to meet new people and make friends. It also teaches you about time management and discipline,” she advised.

With plans to return to the Midmar Mile next year, Zuria is already setting her sights on a top-five finish.