Nothing can keep me from swimming
'It is my life,' swimmer says despite being plagued by injuries.
Despite a knee replacement in the 90s and various other injuries haunting South African Masters swimmer Margaret Nell she still cannot be kept out of the water.
This remarkable swimmer said nothing would keep her from swimming.
This dedicated woman has been swimming since the age of three. At the age of five, Margaret started swimming competitively. Thereafter, she began board diving and life saving up until her mid-twenties. She also awarded Free State, North West Free State and Natal colours for the above. She later got married and saw little of the water she once dominated in.
Years later Margaret saw a newspaper advertisement about South African Masters Swimming and in 1994 decided to dive back into swimming to participate as a South African Masters swimmer.
Margaret currently swims for Coelacanths Master Swimming Club located in Pretoria. She has been a member since 2004.
Between 18 to 21 March, the South African Masters Championships will be held at Ellis Park Swimming Pool. Margaret will be competing in the 60 to 64 age group and will be participating in the 800, 400, 200, 100 and 50 metre races.
Thereafter she will be participating in a 3km and then again a 1,6km open water swim at the Germiston Lake. These races will make for Margaret’s 18th SA Masters Championships.
Margaret has various injuries and was graded by Swim South Africa for disability.
“I do not use my left leg due to the knee replacement back in 1996. In September this year I will have the right knee done, but nothing stops me from swimming. It is my life,” she said.
