Swimmingly good story of defeating the odds is shared
Liam Share, the indomitable swimmer.
Since the day he was born Benoni Agricultural Holdings resident and Belvedere School learner Liam Share (18) has always fought against the odds.
Born with fetal alcohol syndrome the youngster is the definition of a survivor.
It was no surprise then that he would do his school and Benoni proud when he was selected to be part of the South African team that competed at the recent Special Olympics Summer Games in Abu Dhabi as a swimmer.
Share, who swims out of the Benoni Northerns Swimming Pool for Swift Aquatics Club, received five medals at the showpiece humanitarian sporting event where he also attained a personal best in the 50m freestyle event.
The humble and soft-spoken teenager has had some testing times in his life, but his fighting spirit has always come to the fore.
On April 27, 2005, when he was four-years-old, he went missing in the mountains of the Drakensberg with his older brother Frikkie after they got lost during a family camping trip.
At the time he weighed a mere 10kg and his odds of surviving on a cold April night in the Berg were slim as temperatures dropped below one degree Celsius.
According to his adopted mother Carolyn a frantic search was carried out for the boys.
“Liam was wearing a short sleeved T-shirt, shorts and open sandals when he went missing,” she said.
“The next morning, they found the boys at the top of a mountain after sending a rescue helicopter up.”
He was unconscious when found and his core temperature had dropped drastically, verging on death.
“It was very traumatic, although he doesn’t remember it now,” said Carolyn.
“He still sleeps with the light on.”
His life experiences have undoubtedly made him stronger and that is evident by his performances in the pool.
“Swimming has helped him blossom and he has bloomed with confidence from knowing that he swims well,” said his proud mom.
“They call him ‘the bullet’ because he swims so fast.
“At the club, they struggle to get him to pace himself down because he just wants to go.
“He has made a lot of new friends through swimming and through Belvedere which has helped him grow.”
His coach at Belvedere School Sam Hullyer, the swimming organiser for Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) at the school, said: “Belvedere School is extremely honoured and so happy to see how this opportunity has boosted his self-confidence.
“Liam has a boldness about him which is awesome to see.”
The young swimmer thanked his family and coaches for their tremendous support.
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