Highway duo prepare to make a splash at Olympics
The two Highway locals have qualified to compete in a combined three races at the prestigious event.
PROFESSIONAL athletes and St Mary’s DSG alumni, Emma Chelius (24) and Erin Gallagher (22) have qualified to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in late July this year.
Emma qualified in the 50m freestyle and Erin qualified in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly. The Highway Mail caught up with the two talented swimmers and learned about their hopes and dreams for the upcoming prestigious event.
How long have you been swimming for?
Emma: I have been swimming for the past 13 years. I started competing for a club at 11 years old and my mom, Michelle, taught me how to swim when I was a baby. Erin and I both swam together at school, from Kloof Senior Primary days to St Mary’s DSG’s swim team.
Erin: I have been swimming competitively for the last 10 years. From a young age my mom could never get me out of the water. I did, however, go through a period where I was ‘allergic’ to training and hated swimming. It wasn’t until grade 9 where I found my love for swimming again and decided to fully commit myself to the sport and I haven’t looked back since.
What did you have to do to qualify for the event?
For our individual events, we had to swim times fast enough to meet the “Olympic Qualifying Standard” times that are set by the The International Olympic Committee (IOC), as well as finishing in the top two spots in the country for those events.
What are you most looking forward to about the Olympics?
Erin: I’m really looking forward to the experience of the Games as a whole. It’s my first Olympics and it’s the first Games being held during a pandemic – it’s unprecedented for everyone and it’s a chance for the world to still come together amid one of the hardest years we’ve had to face collectively. I cannot wait to represent South Africa and watch my teammates compete.
Emma: I am so excited to watch the amazing swimming and compete against some of the best swimmers in the world. Even though these Olympics will be very different due to the pandemic, I am sure that Tokyo will do an incredible job of hosting. It’s always such an honour to represent South Africa and I can’t wait!
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How has your training schedule changed?
Emma: My training schedule leading up to qualifying was definitely more intense than ever before. Since qualifying, it’s just been about preparing for the 50m freestyle event.
Erin: With just over a month to go, my training schedule won’t really change. My sessions will be more about fine tuning the smaller details to prepare for the Games. So things like my dives, tumble turns and finishes will be my main focus.
What does your training include?
Erin: Seven swim sessions, two gym sessions and two rehab/conditioning sessions a week.
Emma: Eight swim sessions and two gym sessions a week.
“With lots of physio and recovery in-between!” the duo exclaimed.
Do you have a pre-set goal for the Olympics?
Erin: My main goal is to learn and take in the whole experience of the Games. It’s my first Games and I have no idea what to expect, but I don’t want to miss out on an opportunity to learn from the best athletes in the world and to have fun with my teammates. I often put so much pressure on myself that I forget to appreciate where I am and the opportunities I have right in front of me.
Emma: Being my first Olympics, I am really excited to just take in the full experience of the Games. I would absolutely love to come away from the Games knowing that I gave it my best, not only in the pool, but also in cheering on my teammates! It’s been an incredible journey and I have learnt so much along the way, and I’m sure I will learn so much at the Games alongside the best athletes from all around the world.
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Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Emma: This is such a long list! First and foremost, I have my amazing family and friends to thank for their unending support and cheerleading over the years. My husband, Troy, has been my rock throughout my swimming career. Being an Olympian himself, he totally understands the journey and has always encouraged me through the highs and lows. My coach, Karin Hugo, and support team, as well as my sponsors for helping me reach this highlight in my career.
Erin: Swimming has always been considered an individual sport but, behind the scenes, is not. It takes a team – and a huge one at that. I’d like to thank my family and my coach Graham Hill for all the sacrifices they’ve made for me over the years. My incredible friends who still support me even though I missed every single sleepover, my personal trainers, physios, doctors and sponsors. None of this would ever be possible without them.
When you are not swimming, what are your other interests?
Emma: Spending time with my family and friends, napping and taking my dogs for walks to Kloof memorial park. I also run a small veggie box delivery business in the Upper Highway area called SpringBox, and Erin has even been my delivery driver once or twice! It helps to have something else to focus on and I use the income to cover some of my training expenses.
Erin: If I’m not swimming, I’m either locked inside eating while reading, or eating while adventuring, and sometimes it’s combination of all three! I also have a ‘slight’ obsession with my dogs, so I tend to spend a lot of my time with them too.
What is your advice to other aspiring swimmers who wish to compete in the Olympic Games?
Emma: My most valuable piece of advice is to strive for balance. It’s essential to have balance to enjoy your sport and to keep competing for years to come. Make sure you have a great team around you to support you, especially in the tough times. Swimming might be seen as an individual sport, but you cannot possibly make it all the way to the Olympics without some amazing people helping you along the way!
Erin: I think the most important advice I was ever given was to not compare yourself to other people. W often see other people’s successes as our own failures, but this isn’t the case. You can’t compare your chapter three to someone else’s chapter 12. The only person you need to beat, or be better than, is the person you were yesterday.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
