If your knees start trembling at the thought of walking 10 km, imagine how your arms would protest if you had to swim it.
For Rachael Humphries, it is another day at the aquatic office. This Bachelor of Health Sciences student at the North-West University (NWU), who was born in Randburg and matriculated from The King’s School Robin Hills, embraces challenges like these.
“In open water, I compete in the 3 km, 5 km, 7.5 km and 10 km races. The longest distance I’ve competed in is 10 km, and I don’t think I will compete in events longer than that. I like how relaxed you feel in the water, and I like that it is a release from all the daily stresses. It allows you to escape to another world,” she explains.
Rachael has been racing competitively since the age of five, after initially getting her feet wet to learn about water safety.
“Through that, I discovered my love for the water and never stopped.” In addition to open water, she participates in backstroke and freestyle when in the pool, but it is in the open water that she truly hits her stride. “The longer distances are generally my more favoured events.”
The heart wants what the heart wants, however difficult it may be.
“When the peak season comes around, training is relatively tough on the body. In peak season, we work on speed, endurance and race pace, and we can train up to eight times a week. So, it can get a bit challenging at times. My highest accolades are probably in the open water, where I have received a silver and bronze medal at the nationals in two different years in the 19 to 29 age category for the 3 km race. The open-water nationals are a very big stage, where the biggest names in open water in South Africa compete. Generally, our open-water swims take place in dams. At the moment, our qualifying swims are done at Prime View in Olifantsfontein, and our open-water nationals happen at Marina Martinique in Jeffreys Bay. I haven’t ever competed in the sea. I am a bit skeptical about swimming with sharks, but I’m sure I’ll get there at some point,” she quips.
In 2022, Rachael had four top 10 rankings in Swim South Africa’s 19 and over categories. As for her future goals, she hopes to still be swimming by the time she graduates. After that, she wants to become a biokineticist who works with professional sports teams or does hydrotherapy with cerebral palsy patients. Her role models include two women of world renown and she hopes to emulate their achievements.
“Ever since I was young, I have admired Natalie du Toit. Her perseverance to overcome her disability and still do something she loves is something I’ve always looked up to. More recently, it has been Michelle Weber, who has been to two Olympic Games in the open water events. She also just swam the English Channel. Her achievements are so amazing, and to be able to achieve what she has would be wonderful.”
When not swimming, Rachel enjoys running, reading a book or catching up on movies and series. “I’m also a big fan of rugby. It has been known that once or twice I’ll go to training early to be able to watch the Varsity Cup,” she says with a chuckle.
Ever humble, she readily admits that her success was not only of her own making. “I just want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to my parents. They’ve taken me everywhere I needed to go and they ensure I have everything I need when I’m competing. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
“I want to thank my grandparents for their endless support and all my coaches along the way. I’ve had many coaches who have contributed to who I am as a person and the way I view sports. I want to thank God for all the talent I’ve been given and I want to use it to glorify Him.”
