Ras does not believe in giving up
A local swimmer still dreams of participating at the Olympic Games after his swimming career was temporarily suspended due to cancer treatment.
To talk about facing up to a challenge is easy. It is when faced with a setback that the real heroes come to the fore.
The former swimmer of the SA Students team, Ruan Ras, who graduated in architecture at the University of Pretoria last year, is somebody who seems not to know the meaning of the words giving up.
In 2011 he was diagnosed with cancer. At the time he was considered a talented swimmer. It is one of the reasons why he was never going to allow the “Big C” to get the better of him. His faith was another crucial attributing factor.
According to Ras he never worried about dying when being told he had cancer. It was more a case of him being upset because he was not able to swim while undergoing chemotherapy.
“I had set myself goals, and suddenly it seemed that I wouldn’t be able to achieve it. That was frustrating,” said Ras who could not swim for six months.
He was full of praise for how the teachers at TuksSport High School went out their way to ensure that he kept up with his studies. They came to the hospital to tutor him.
In 2012 Ras was told that his cancer is in remission and that he was allowed to resume his training in the pool. He matriculated with seven distinctions.
In spite of his arduous study regime, he is not given up on his dream of representing South Africa at the Olympic Games. He is so serious about it that he has made a particular arrangement with his bosses at the Boogterman and Partners Architecture Firm to be able to train and work.
“I work an hour less than my colleagues each day to be able to train. It means I had to take a cut in salary, but it is worth it,” said Ras who trains about four hours a day.
A definite highlight was representing South Africa at the World Student Games in Taipei last year. Rocco Meiring is coaching him from this year. His goal is to try and qualify for next year’s World Championships in the 200m and 400m individual medley.
When listening to Ras talk about his goals and ambitious one can’t help to think that he is going to represent South Africa at a major international gala.
“I love a challenge. That is what makes life interesting. To face up to goals you have set yourself is a definite way to learn what you are truly capable of achieving. Having had cancer made me realise that the biggest mistake anyone can make is to let a setback wear them down. Nothing, however bad it might seem at the time, is insurmountable. The secret is to stay true to your dreams and be passionate.”
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