Brescia House athlete makes a splash at the international lifesaving competition

When Grace Prince stepped onto the pool deck at the Zwemcentrum in Rotterdam, she wasn’t just racing for herself; she was racing for South Africa.

Selected for the South African President’s Team, Lifesaving SA’s youth development squad, the Brescia House School learner embraced the honour with determination, humility and grit at the prestigious Orange Cup Lifesaving Championships.

“It was an incredible honour to represent my country and fly the South African flag high,” Grace said. “Everything you do at an international competition is a reflection not only of yourself as an athlete, but of your country too.”

Competing against elite athletes from across the globe, Grace took part in nine races over the course of the competition, including five individual events.

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Her standout performance came in the 100m Manikin Tow with Fins, where she placed an impressive 7th overall out of 111 junior women (ages 15–18). The result was even more special as she touched the wall with a new personal best time, shaving three seconds off her previous best.

“I really enjoyed that race because it felt like all my hard work and technical practice were paying off. Racing in such a deep international field motivates you to swim even faster. Being in that environment is a privilege.”

Grace also secured an excellent 11th place in the demanding 200m Super Lifesaver, an exceptional achievement for her first international competition at just 16 years old.

In addition, she played a key role in the 4x50m Medley Relay, swimming the underwater fins leg as her team finished second, just 1.2 seconds shy of breaking the South African record.

“That relay was definitely a highlight. When we realised how close we were to the national record, we were so proud of what we had achieved together. It really motivated us to leave everything we had in the pool.”

Beyond the results, the experience of racing at such a high level left a lasting impression. Grace described the atmosphere in Rotterdam as focused and professional, yet welcoming.

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“There was a new level of seriousness compared to competitions back home. But at the same time, the people were incredibly friendly and curious about other countries.

Watching the New Zealand Black Fins break the world record in the mixed medley relay was surreal. I couldn’t believe I was swimming in the same pool as world record holders.”

All of this success came after an intense 12-week training block, undertaken alongside a demanding academic schedule and exam preparation.

“My parents have been my biggest supporters from day one. I’m also incredibly grateful to my coach Heather Morris-Eyton and mentors, who helped me stay calm and focus on what I can control. Being part of the President’s Team meant learning from experienced national athletes, which made the whole tour even more special.”

The Orange Cup has given Grace renewed confidence and clarity as she looks ahead. “This competition really put my times into perspective and showed me how I compare internationally. I’ve learnt what race routines work for me and how to process both good and bad races.”

With the Lifesaving World Championships set to take place in Gqeberha this year, Grace and her Mandeville Dolphins Lifesaving Club teammates already have their sights set on the future.

“Competing on home soil would be an incredible opportunity.

My goal is to keep improving, take time off my personal bests and always give my absolute best. If you’re not giving a race your all, is there really a point in racing at all?”

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