Eight years ago, Shakira January would have battled to keep her head above water in a swimming pool, but these days she is like a fish in water.

A lot has changed. She is now a seasoned international water polo player. In July, the 20-year-old January and Esihle Zondo will represent South Africa at the World Championships in Japan.

Last month, the two players from the Tuks Waterpolo club were in action in Berlin during the Water Polo World Cup. In 2021 January were in action at the Tokyo Olympic Games at the age of only 18.

This is hard to believe especially considering that January only learned to swim near the end of her Grade 6 year.

“I used to be an avid athlete and netball player. When it came to swimming, I was the drowning kid. My friends convinced me that it was high time for me to learn how to swim. I will forever be grateful to them. Two years later, my cousin convinced me to play water polo and it did not take long for me to get hooked,” she said during a recent interview.

For January, water polo is the ultimate sport, because there is no respite once you are in the water.

“You are treading water all the time to keep your head above water. At the same time, you must shoot the ball with your arms. Still, it is not all. You are in continuous battle against opponents for possession of the ball. Things can get rough. There is a lot of grabbing, pulling, and kicking. While this continues, you and your teammates must strategize how you will score goals. Needless to say, you are physically and mentally drained at the end of a game,” she explained her view on the sport.

As to what she loves about the game, the Tuks player said water polo does something to her.

“Once I dive in, I am totally focussed. All my other frustrations are forgotten. All that matters is to be the best I can be. I play as a centre-back. So, my role is to organise our defensive structures and find a way to get us on the attack again,” she remarked.

January considers the Tokyo Olympics as a definite highlight.

“I won’t lie. I was scared the first time I played. Remember, my only international experience before the Games was playing at an under-20 level. Now I was up against the world’s best. Most players were about 10 years older than me. I was shocked at how strong they were. That was until I found out how hard they trained. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in the Games at such a young age. The experience I gained has stood me in good stead,” she said.

The results of the national team speak for itself. During the Olympic Games, they got thrashed, but last month at the World Cup, they started to hold our own.

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