What goes behind Suné Liebenberg’s perfect swim
The competitive swimmer gives details on what swimming has been all she wanted to do
Though swimmer, Suné Liebenberg, might have immediately fallen in love with the water at only seven years old, this fourth-year Wits medical student has stayed in the sporting code all these years for its discipline, the clarity it offers and the powerful sense of personal growth it has brought her.
For this Wits competitive swimmer, swimming is more than just a sport – it’s where she has built resilience, found purpose, and felt most free. Earlier in the year competed in the SA National Swimming Competition at Newton Park in Gqeberha, an experience she describes as being truly surreal. “Coming back to compete on a national stage after stepping away for a few years made the experience even more meaningful,” she said, adding it was incredibly special to be part of such a high-level event again.
To be eligible for this competition, swimmers have to have achieved SA national qualifying times.
Read more: Swimming is beneficial
Given her break from competitive swimming, she competed with the mindset to do her best, all while enjoying the experience. “My goal was simply to reconnect with the sport I love,” she shared. In the end, it far exceeded her expectations, from the atmosphere, camaraderie and the adrenaline of racing again. For her, standing behind the blocks at a national event holds great power and brings with it a great sense of personal achievement.
For this Houghton resident, training for this competition meant balancing swimming with her medical studies. “My training had to be structured and purposeful. I focused on quality over quantity – refining technique, maximising efficiency, and building confidence. Every session had to count.” Liebenberg sees her coach as being instrumental in keeping her grounded and focused. Not only did her coach understand the demands she was facing out of the water, but made sure to tailor a training approach that worked for her physically and mentally. “Training by myself in a gym was a challenge, but driving between Pretoria and Johannesburg was extremely demanding. My coach’s trust in me to do the sessions by myself allowed me that extra time to allocate to my studies.”
To prepare herself mentally for competitions, she does a lot of visualisation and positive self-talk. She reminds herself of the work she has done and that all her time in the water is a celebration of her return to it. The most rewarding part of taking part in the nationals was proving to herself that she could come back. “After four years out of the competitive scene, just being there and performing with heart was a victory. It reminded me why I started swimming in the first place.”
To young swimmers, she urges them to never underestimate the power of showing up for themselves and their dreams, even when it’s hard. “It’s okay to take breaks or change paths. What matters is that you always keep your passion alive.”
She concluded that swimming would give back as much as you put in and more.
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