Toti’s star swimmers drowning without facilities

KZN level swimmers in Toti, where Olympic medalist Penny Heyns hails from, have been left out in the cold.

For swimmers to represent KZN, they need to belong to a registered club with a KZN-registered coach, however local swimmers have been left without a decent pool, club or coach.

The Toti Swim Club closed in February when coach Isabel Esterhuizen retired.

“I know of at least eight swimmers from the former Toti Swim Club who are now without facilities or a coach,” said Marinda Stuiver, the mother of top young swimmer, Monica (7), who in only a year of competitive swimming broke 28 records and scooped 31 gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

“Parents drive their children to Durban for coaching or get programmes from coaches and sign up their children at local gyms just to keep on training. These swimmers are so committed they train without a coach.

We have approached all the schools and none of them are keen to make a deal to establish a club, even though a level three coach is willing to coach the school teams as well.

Schools with pools do not allow any clubs to use them even though clubs are willing to pay.”

Jarrod Leach, a level three coach groomed by Graham Hill, the national coach, is willing to move to Toti. He is also a qualified sport psychologist who would encourage the swimmers tokeep swimming through their teenage years, when many of them lose interest in sport. However, without a heated pool with at least five lanes and 20 swimmers, he cannot make the move as he will end up without an income until summer time.

Municipal pools in Toti are not the answer, as they are either in a state of neglect, have no lane ropes, are not 25m or 50m pools, and have no parking or heating facilities to train year-round. “Toti main beach’s pool is neglected and the pool is only used for lifesaving. We tried to train Monica there during school holidays, but it was impossible with the public playing in the pool and some people deliberately swimming in front of her.

At Pipeline, the stench of urine is too bad and it is also not heated. At Winkelspruit there aren’t proper lanes and it’s not the right shape and at Lower Illovo, there are security issues.

Out of desperation, Marinda registered Monica with the Seagulls Swimming Club. “We worked out it would cost us about R2,600 a month to drive once a day to Lahee Park where Seagulls train, plus the time it takes is a problem as we are self-employed and need to work as well.”

Michelle Ridley is another parent who is frustrated by the situation. “These swimmers need to start training now and it is just not possible without a heated pool. By the time September comes, it takes them another whole month to get back into the season again.”

Her daughter, Sharnay is the school captain and swimming victrix ludorum of Toti Primary School.

She broke all records in the under 13 category and the medley record by 13 seconds at the Totilly Fun Gala.

“We need something done as there are a lot of shining swimming stars on the Upper South Coast,” said Michelle.