UMHLANGA resident Carey Glover recently won a silver medal in the beach run at the Lifesaving World Championships (Rescue 2016) in Noordwijk. More than 3 000 lifeguards from around the world competed in several categories for the medals. The former Our Lady of Fatima pupil who was representing the Durban Surf Lifesaving Club took part in the beach run and the malibu board events. This was the 19-year-old’s first world champs.

“This was my first event as a senior and it was a little daunting because the competition was so tough. Initially I wanted to medal in the two kilometre beach run, but as I lined up on the starting blocks I was just so nervous because the competition was tough. As the race progressed I managed to break away from the bunch and then I was thinking about making the top 10, but as we neared the end I realised I was in medal contention. It was awesome feeling winning a medal, I was so ecstatic.

“The world champs was such an awesome experience, I was able to pick up good techniques and see a whole new level of competition, especially from an intensity perspective. In South Africa we are not exposed to international competition so this was a huge learning curve for me. It’s motivated me to make the team for the next world champs in Adelaide in 2018,” she said.

Jolanda van Dalen, chair of World Championships Lifesaving was satisfied with the event.

“We have succeeded to organise a World Championship which was well appreciated by the participants and by the officials. I am so proud of all volunteers. They have done an outstanding job.”does not inspire any confidence. ,” he said.