Coach Mandy has a passion for the pool

MANDY Koegelenberg has been swimming competitively for the past 29 years, and coaching for 18 years.

She achieved her Western Province colours as an under eight swimmer – and that’s the reason she still shouts for ‘Province’.

Mandy started swimming Masters when she was 21 years old, and holds various records in freestyle and backstroke events.

But having children has meant that she hasn’t been in peak form in the pool of late.

Despite this, she did pick up silver and bronze medals in the 200m and 100m backstroke events respectively.

She enjoys swimming and coaching, especially being able to identify with swimmers striving to achieve their goals, or help talk them through some difficult times.

Mandy started coaching as a Learn to Swim instructor in Johannesburg, while writing matric.

In 1999, Mandy and her late mom Muffy opened Blue Ocean Aquatics on the South Coast.

She has since done courses in various forms of sports management and coaching – and has been the team manager on various tours of KZN and South African teams.

“Blue Ocean Aquatics is a club that is based on a progressive learning technique, then into the introduction of competitive racing and then a competitive training squad,” she said.

The club has had much success at the different levels at both regional and national levels, with a number of swimmers breaking level one records.

“Recently, our club was represented at the prestigious Mare Nostrum swim meets in Spain and France,” she said.

The club caters for all levels of swimmers of all ages, from serious swimmers to those who want to get fit and/or lose weight.
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