Eight gold for van Rooyen
CARLSWALD - Carissa van Rooyen proved that 2013 was her swimming year - and she is not slowing down in 2014.
Van Rooyen, who swims for the Electric Eels swimming team, won eight gold medals and two silver medals in her first big gala of the year. Van Rooyen made her achievements in the 2014 Gauteng School Championships on 1 February at the Hillcrest Pool in Pretoria and her mother, Liezel, described her achievements as “phenomenal”. Van Rooyen is sponsored by Speedo.
She won gold in the 50m and 100m freestyle races, 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke races, the 100m and 200m breaststroke races and in the 200m individual medley.
She achieved silver medals for her 200m freestyle and 50m breaststroke races.
Liezel said, “Carissa is currently in heavy training and working hard with her coach Matthew Josephson at Wahoo Swimming School in Sunninghill, preparing for the Central Gauteng Level 2 Championships and SA Level 2 Regionals, taking place on 22 and 23 February and 20 to 23 March respectively. She is currently training eight-and-a-half hours per week and is looking forward to achieving amazing results at the aforementioned events.”
When van Rooyen isn’t making waves in the pool, she goes to school at Christ Church Preparatory, where she is in Grade 6.
Van Rooyen is the proud holder of the South African record for the 50m backstroke event in a time of 31.47 seconds for girls age 11. “This is currently the fastest time in the world for her age group,” said Liezel.
Van Rooyen also holds four Central Gauteng records for girls age 11 in the 50m freestyle and in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke races.
