Brescia’s Christine wins 5 gold medals in Gauteng Schools Championships

Christine Jackson, a swimmer from Brescia House School in Bryanston, recently claimed gold in five events at the Gauteng Schools Championships, cementing her place as one of the province’s top young athletes.

She took home gold medals in the 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and 200m individual medley.

Her impressive performance earned her a spot on the Gauteng Schools team, and she will compete in the National Schools Gala in Bloemfontein this April.

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Christine said, “I am excited to have done well at champs, especially since I have been chosen for the Gauteng Schools team.”

Her rigorous training schedule, between six to nine sessions a week alongside gym workouts, prepares her for the demands of competitive swimming.

“The nice part about training for individual medley is it trains your whole body and prepares you for all the strokes, which makes racing a variety of strokes easier.”

Christine’s journey has been far from easy. She said she was born without hip sockets and underwent invasive surgery at a young age to build them.

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Despite the challenges, including weak ligaments and several hip dislocations, she pushed through, regaining her confidence and determination.

“I had to rebuild my confidence. Any progress in sport is a gift and an opportunity to experience freedom in movement.”

She elaborated that her resilience was also driven by the inspiration she drew from her past struggles. “Looking back on how far I have come from dealing with injuries and the hit to my confidence, I realised that my body can do so much if my mind allows it.”

Christine pointed out that 2023 was a significant year for her, as she not only was selected for the Gauteng Schools team but also travelled to Italy for training camps.

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She said the connections she made with fellow athletes left a lasting impression. “Being surrounded by such hardworking and ambitious people is so inspiring.”

As she prepares for the upcoming National Schools and South African Junior Nationals in April, her focus remains on enjoying the journey.

“My goals for my matric year are to really enjoy the process, embrace the nerves, and hopefully collect some medals along the way.”

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