Curro Rivonia swimmer survives hell month as he gears up for nationals

Camryn Jones (18), from Curro Rivonia, is set to compete at the 2026 South African National Swimming Championships, taking place in Gqeberha from March 18 to 20.

Representing both Curro Rivonia and his club, Sandton Seals Swimming, Jones will compete in the youth category, marking a milestone in his swimming journey.

His entry into the sport came later than many elite swimmers, beginning swimming competitively only at the age of 15 at a school competition. “I never saw swimming as more than a school sport at first, but I have realised it helps with developing discipline and grit as you train, even on your bad days.”

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One of the biggest influences in his swimming journey is his peer, Haytham Phillips.

Representing his school on a national stage is something Camryn does not take lightly. ⁠”It’s an indescribable feeling.”

Balancing the demands of school, high performance training, and everyday life has been no small task for Camryn, especially in his final year of school. “It’s all about time management and a coach who understands where you come from. Constant motivation and words of assurance from my family also pushes me to aim higher, both in sport and academically.

“Teachers also play a big role in helping, as they are able to work around my busy schedule and understand the pressure I’m under. The goal is to get as far as possible before life gets serious as an adult.”

Camryn added that preparations for the upcoming competition has been more intense than ever. “Training for a big gala, such as nationals, is not as easy as when we are training for other competitions. We call it hell month, because it is a month of training which utilises lactate swimming sets, aerobic sets, and anaerobic swimming sets.”

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Despite the pressure that comes with high level competition, Camryn has found his own ways to calm the nerves before and during the competition. “Listening to music and talking to my competitors helps to ease my nerves.”

He added that he wants to smash personal bests at the upcoming national championships and hopefully qualify for senior nationals in the next swimming season. “In the next five years, I am hoping to see myself as a seasoned swimmer, representing South Africa on a national stage. With the next few years being focused solely on university and swimming, I think it’s possible.”

Camryn added that he wants to be remembered as a motivation to others, reminding them that anything is possible with the right mindset and facilities.

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