Botha bags medals galore
In the 100 metre Freestyle, she was 15 seconds off the SA National Junior (SANJ) qualifying time of 1:06:49.
Eleven-year-old Monica Botha of the North Coast Dolphins Swim Team has been swimming up a storm.
Botha entered 13 events in various age groups at the the annual Prestige Championships hosted by Seals swimming club at King’s Park recently.
She competed in a total of 22 events over the five days which includes heats and finals, improving her own swimming times in 16 of these races across the four swimming strokes including the 200-metre individual medley.
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Botha’s effort secured bronze medals in the 50 and 100 metre long course freestyle events. She broke through the 31-second barrier in the 50 metre freestyle in a time of 30,40 seconds.
In the 100 metre Freestyle, she was 15 seconds off the SA National Junior (SANJ) qualifying time of 1:06:49.
“We did not expect the breakthrough in the 50 and 100 metre freestyle. We anticipated a potential SANJ qualifying time in the 200 metre freestyle as Monica swam a short course qualifying time of 2:21:08 at the Umgungundlovu (25 metre) gala in June.
“We are very proud of her personal best times so early in the new season. It sets a great baseline for the 2018-2019 swimming season,” said her coach, Jan Botha.
After holding the Dolphin Coast’s name on high at the Prestige Championships, Botha proceeded to shine at the KZN Beavers winter long course championships late in August. She competed in 11-12, 12 and under and 14 and under events – a total of 13 events and improving on her personal bests in 11 of those races and achieved a SA junior qualifying time in the 100 metre Freestyle (1:06:29).
Botha brought home six silver medals and four bronze medals Botha is homeschooled and trains five days a week for an hour and a half at the Aqua Lifestyle centre swimming pool in Amanzimtoti where her father is the squad coach. She continues to swim and represent North Coast Dolphins swimming team in Ballito under head coach Dominique Donner.
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