Florida Swimming Club celebrates the end of a tumultuous season

Early mornings, long hours and cold waters require a firm belief and faith in the process.

In their 96th year of existence, the oldest swimming club on the West Rand recently capped off a difficult season with a fine season-ending performance in the pool. Currently operating out of La Salle College, Florida Swimming Club bagged 22 medals from their six finest swimmers. With junior and senior age groups split between Germiston and Pretoria, the swimmers returned home draped in the colours of victory.

Gabriella Helberg brought home one medal while Danel de Verga and thorn among the roses, Danyal van der Schuff, earned three a piece. Kate Whittiker excelled, bagging four medals, but it was Jordainne Kazimierczak and Megan Cathro who blew the competition out of the water with five medals each. The swimmers dominated every discipline, stroke and style, setting the bar high for next season.

After a recent decoupling from a Ruimsig-based swimming school, the club’s numbers have dropped but recent results prove the maxim of quality over quantity. High-intensity training, a methodical emphasis on technique and a strong team spirit are the ingredients in the glue that bind this team. A tip of the swimming cap then goes to coaches Brian Twiss and Andy Young for their stellar leadership.

The club is focused on building the sport by giving their swimmers and coaches the freedom and flexibility to climb the watery ladder. Sights are set firmly on increasing numbers and hosting more galas, with a winter break the perfect pause to take stock of what has and can be achieved. Not defined by profit but by a desire to see swimming grow and swimmers achieve, they should still be setting the standard for another 96 years.