Splashing into Action for sport

She attended Modderbee Primary School, CR Swart School in Endicott and matriculated from Johan Jurgens High School in 1981. After school she pursued sports such as karate and judo, as she wanted to try something new and challenging. She achieved a black belt for both forms of martial arts and in 1984 and 1986 she received her Springbok colours in judo.

In 1989 she moved from karate to kickboxing. Her passion for the sport has prompted her to start a small kickboxing school in Selection Park.
Her coaching has allowed the next great kickboxing stars to emerge, like junior kickboxer Divante Singh and senior kickboxer Warren de Beer who have been selected for provincial and national level.
In order to be a coach she had to qualify for the South African championships and qualify in the top four. She ended up being top in the championships for her division and age group. Having spent 19 years in judo and karate, she eventually became a qualified judo instructor.
When she had her daughter in the 1990s, she decided to get involved in swimming and lifesaving. She obtained her provincial colours in life saving and swimming during the 1980’s.
“The sport made me realise that with proper training in the water, you are able to save a life in the pool or hopefully other water sources where someone may be in danger.” She also became a provincial team manager for the Blackfin Swimming Club. She admits that lifesaving was a tough sport in the past, as it worked in conjunction with swimming.
Her swimming career has been prolific; she swam the Midmar Mile seven times, always ending in the top three for her age group. She also competed in a masters swimming competition, and won a few races. Her swimming speciality was 800m freestyle.
Since 2006 she has been working for the Ekurhuleni metro, where she became involved in sports management via its Learn to Swim (LTS) programme, a recreational programme for children’s groups from various disadvantaged areas and schools from Grade R to Grade Three learners.
The programme aims for children to be water safe and swimming as a developmental sport.
When asked what satisfaction she gets from participating in sport to initiating it, she said she loved the discipline and confidence that begins to foster in the children, especially those with special needs.
“It teaches them achievement is within their grasp. The fact that someone can be petrified by water when learning to swim, and gaining the skill to handle water to their advantage, then enjoy it and respect it” says Rina.
For Rina no matter the sporting code, sport teaches an individual discipline and self-confidence.
However, she feels that sporting colours being achieved by merit has dwindled, making it easier for someone to obtain provincial or national colours.
“When I walk into a retail or clothing store, I see sports clothing with the Springbok on it, knowing very well someone who buys it does not know the true value of wearing those green and gold colours with the Springbok insignia. No one can buy the green and gold. That alone makes me sad  in wearing my original Springbok colours.”
Rina’s passion for sport stems from the experience she gained in mastering each sporting code, emphasising that whether someone is from a disadvantaged area or not, they must realise “it takes years to get to the top.”
In Rina’s point of view transformation through sport on selection is not the same as transformation of sport through
achievement or merit. Her love for sport drives her passion in administrating and foreseeing that sport development can be seen on a grassroots level with the help of the metro and her colleagues in the four areas of the metro.
Rina’s deskwork at the Customer Care Centre in Springs does not deter her from sport.
Despite her busy schedule, Rina still has time to swim to keep fit and nurture her kickboxing school in Selection Park. This sporting fanatic is a true example of ‘achievement through sport’, proving that any sport provides the skills for mastering life.