Van Rooyen plans to break records
MIDRAND - Up-and-coming swimmer Carissa van Rooyen has qualified to swim at the Central Gauteng Open Championship from 5 to 8 December at Ellis Park Pool, Johannesburg.
The Carlswald resident will swim in the sub-junior group for U12.
She is looking forward to the backstroke 50m race where she is hoping to break her own South African record.
She will also compete in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle races, 50m breaststroke, and 100m and 200m backstroke.
In addition, Van Rooyen will compete in the 400m medley relay and the 200m freestyle relay.
The Christ Church Preparatory Grade 5 pupil’s proud mother Liezel said, “Carissa is hoping to break some regional [records], and hopefully, [break] another South African record.”
Van Rooyen trains at Wahoo Swimming Club in Sunninghill. She has been swimming competitively since 2011, and is already ranked number one in South Africa for many of the female, U11 age group swimming events. She also holds four Central Gauteng Junior Short Course Championship records and was awarded the Top Female Swimmer award for Level 1 by Central Gauteng Aquatics during the Central Gauteng Annual Awards function in September.
Liezel said, “Speedo South Africa is now sponsoring Carissa’s swimming kit as part of their strategy is to identify rising stars and then support them in realising their ambitions. They gave her a complete training kit, training equipment and racing kit and will replace as she needs more.”
