Rynpark’s golden girl
The 30th South African Masters Swimming Nationals took place from Wednesday, March 12 to 16, at the Stadium Swimming Complex, in Bloemfontein.
Rynpark Two resident Christie du Plooy (83), who is an accomplished masters swimmer and track athlete, took part in a number of swimming events at the nationals and brought home four gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze medal from her events.
The octogenarian participated in the 50m freestyle (second place), 50m backstroke (first place), 100m freestyle (first place), 100m backstroke (first place), 200m backstroke (first place) as well as three relay events, winning a bronze with the women’s relay team.
Du Plooy improved on her times from last year’s nationals by 4.63 seconds in the 50m backstroke, and bettered her time from last year’s 100m backstroke by 12 seconds.
“We are not supposed to better our times, because we’re a year older,” she joked.
Du Plooy’s solitary silver medal came in the 50m freestyle.
Fifteen masters swimming clubs from around the country took part in the nationals, and du Plooy swam for the East Rand’s ET Stingrays team.
When asked how it feels to have so many medals around her neck du Plooy said: “I feel extremely thankful, happy and satisfied, but while we are busy there it’s very strenuous and such a busy time, because the sessions are all close together.
“You’re always busy and there is not much time to relax between events.”
She added that one of the nice things about the nationals is that she got to mix with and get to know participants from all over the country, including her rivals.
Du Plooy said that her favourite event is the 50m backstroke, and it has been since her younger days.
She will now divert her attention to the running track, as she gears up for the Central Gauteng Masters Championships, to be held at the Germiston Stadium, on April 12, followed by the SA Masters Athletics Nationals, in Rustenburg, at the end of April.
