Teenage prodigy making waves

Five national swimming records and two South African lifesaving age group records are a feat for any teenager, but Zoë Frank holds these records and she is only 11 years old.
The young girl is a student at Ashton International College and spends the better part of her time in the pool.
“She was born a water baby but she started swimming seriously aged eight,” said Stan Frank, Zoë’s father.
After winning gold at her first official gala at the Westville champs, she has never looked back.
She has excelled at swimming and her five national records are testament to her hard work. More recently, she has taken up lifesaving and has also taken to the discipline with ease.
Her coach, Sarah Baillie, believes Zoë’s natural talent helped her take easily to the sport.
“She broke two SA records in 2012 and she had only been doing lifesaving for about two months,” she said.
She was subsequently awarded Victrix Ludorum for girls aged 10 and under and she finished top in her age group nationally at the lifesaving champs.
She will compete at the Lifesaving SA Stillwater National Championships in Bloemfontein next weekend. However, she has her sights firmly set on swimming nationals in March where she will compete above her age group.
“She is not going there to win, she wants to better her times and break more age-group records,” said Stan.
Looking towards the future, her father believes Zoë is destined for bigger accolades with the Olympics being an ultimate goal.
“She obviously has big dreams, but all in good time,” he said.
Zoë is supported in both swimming and lifesaving by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, one of only two swimmers and the only lifesaving competitor to be selected for this honour.
She says she is very grateful for the support she receives from the foundation and strives to be a great ambassador in her chosen sports.
Baillie hopes Zoë’s success will encourage other children to take to the water.
“There is so much talent in this area, all these kids can swim and run. From eight years old, they learn about water safety and how to read the surf,” said Baillie.
The Ballito Lifesaving club has been going for two years and has steadily grown in numbers. With six members going to the national champs, the club has a bright future ahead.
For more information on joining the club contact Sarah Baillie on 073 262 3897 or email her at sarah.baillie87@gmail.com.