VIDEO: Local swimmers ready to make their mark at international events
Young local swimmers, Indiana de Villiers and Sarah McLaren, both matric learners, go for gold on the international stage.
TWO local swimmers, Indiana de Villiers and Sarah McLaren, are aiming to showcase their talents in the pool at two international events.
De Villiers, a Grade 12 learner at Our Lady of Fatima, will be representing the country at the Region 5 Youth Games in Namibia in July, while McLaren, also a matric learner at Durban Girls’ College, will be representing the country at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Romania in August.
The duo, who are members of Aqua Athletes KZN, are coached by Tracey Hemphill.
Speaking on her national selection, De Villiers said she was grateful for the opportunity.
“It is every swimmer’s dream to represent their country so it is an honour wearing that green and gold. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity and while I haven’t experienced much international competition, I’m hoping to use the games to test my mettle. I’m not sure what the competition is going to be like, but I want to take it all in and experience the most. Overall I’m hoping to make some finals in my races,” she said.
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The 18-year-old will be competing in the backstroke (50m, 100m and 200m), butterfly (50m and 100m) and freestyle (50m and 100m).
She will also compete in some of the relay events.
For McLaren, who has experienced several international events through the age groups, her plan is to achieve her personal bests in all the races she competes in.
She recently returned from Egypt where she competed at the Africa Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships.
The 18-year-old won a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke and achieved a personal best time in the event.
“Thankfully the team have given us what events we will be competing in. I’ve been selected for the 100m and 200m breaststroke which is my main stroke. With coach Tracey’s help we’ve been focusing on that stroke in training. I feel quite confident in my abilities and how I race. My goal is to achieve personal best times in my races and make semi-finals and finals at the champs,” she said.
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