"The harder I work, the more luck I seem to have" by Thomas Jefferson, and "It always seems impossible until it's done"
Do you want to be featured on this page? Here are questions you can contemplate to answer on your own, at your own time and send to me either via WA or email: shamudata@yahoo.com
- Are you a team player or prefer going solo?
- Who got you in to swimming competitively and when did you start?
- What are some of your favourite memories from your swimming career so far?
- Who do you look up to within Shamu Swimming and why?
- Who is your all-time favourite swimmer?
- What has been the biggest challenge you've faced in your swimming career, and how did you overcome it?
- What is your perfect pre-meet meal?
- Name 3 songs on your pre-meet playlist
- Before a meet do you prefer to get hyped up with the team, or do you prefer to keep it calm and do your own thing?
- Who is the funniest person on the team and why?
- What's your favourite event and why?
- What do you enjoy doing on your day off?
- What would you like to accomplish in swimming?
- Have you done what you need to do to achieve your swimming dream today?
- What advice would you give someone who considers taking on swimming in a competitive environment?
- What swimmer habits irritate you most at swim meets?
- What is your weakness and how do you feel you can improve on to achieve your goals?
- What is your strength and how can you improve hereon to achieve your goals?
- Do you follow the crowd or feel secure enough to take the road less taken?
- What is your favourite part of training?
- What would you change, if you could in your swimming world?
- Do you enjoy training? Explain why
- Do you enjoy swim meets? Explain why
- Do you have a favourite quote? What is it?
- Who is your hero out side of swimming?
Yvonne Botha
Yvonne started swimming at age 14 and joined Shamu in the capable hands of Johan. Being in a swim team means the world to me and nothing can beat the atmosphere and fun with friends who are more like family to me. The support with a team is unbeatable sharing our triumphs and support us when we feel we have failed. Nothing can beat the pumping of your heart just stepping closer to the blocks, let alone the feeling of hard wall on your palms as you touch on the other side, the wait for others to also touch the wall, exhilarating.
Swimming idol I would love to meet would be Chad le Clous. Qualities I respect in a leader is the will to serve your teammates and this separates him/her from being a teammate making him/her a leader. All athletes would agree that friends made in sport are much more loyal and being an athlete gives you the self-discipline to push through hard times in all spheres to achieve your goals. I personally celebrate and congratulate myself when achieving my goals and guard from being too hard on myself when I don't achieve my goals.
If I weren't a swimmer, I would probably play netball and pursue athletics, specifically the hurdle events, but swimming is my choice. Attitude plays a huge role in achieving your goals in sport and has a huge influence on your performance. My favourite dish is pasta; my inspiration was always and remains my Dad and I continue to swim in his memory. I think a good quality I have is being stubborn and I never give up which is essential in swimming and all walks of life. I love Hillcrest swimming pool in Gauteng.
Swimming is a very intense sport and pushes you beyond your breaking point, when you think you have reached breaking point and push beyond, you realise you can actually go much further, faster. This is a lesson I implement in my daily life and will definitely lead to success whatever I pursue.
Swimming idol I would love to meet would be Chad le Clous. Qualities I respect in a leader is the will to serve your teammates and this separates him/her from being a teammate making him/her a leader. All athletes would agree that friends made in sport are much more loyal and being an athlete gives you the self-discipline to push through hard times in all spheres to achieve your goals. I personally celebrate and congratulate myself when achieving my goals and guard from being too hard on myself when I don't achieve my goals.
If I weren't a swimmer, I would probably play netball and pursue athletics, specifically the hurdle events, but swimming is my choice. Attitude plays a huge role in achieving your goals in sport and has a huge influence on your performance. My favourite dish is pasta; my inspiration was always and remains my Dad and I continue to swim in his memory. I think a good quality I have is being stubborn and I never give up which is essential in swimming and all walks of life. I love Hillcrest swimming pool in Gauteng.
Swimming is a very intense sport and pushes you beyond your breaking point, when you think you have reached breaking point and push beyond, you realise you can actually go much further, faster. This is a lesson I implement in my daily life and will definitely lead to success whatever I pursue.
Ruan Hanaczeck Kruger
Meet Ruan, Senior National medal winner 2021, a quick 20 questions
3 reasons why you like swimming, being part of a team? Because it’s competitive, it’s brings out a different type of discipline and settles me mentally.
What is the best part about competing? I enjoy Setting goals for every gala, building stepping stones and to challenge myself.
My favorite quote: “ Train insane or remain the same”
Swimmer I would like to meet - Caleb Dressel
How does being an athlete make you a better person? It settles me mentally, teaches me how to focus and live life in a different healthier manner. Hard to explain you have to feel it yourself.
What is the one thing you always do after a good performance? I go and talk to my coach and rest afterwards.
What do you do to calm your butterflies while you compete? Breathing exercises and listening to music.
If you could play another sport what would it be? Boxing
What age were you when you started your swimming? I started learn to swim classes at the age of 3, and started competing at the age of 7.
What is your favorite food to eat the night before a big competition? A BIG rumb stake, cooked to absolute perfection of my liking.
Who inspired you as a young athlete? Chad le Clos
What one word describes you? “Very” Competitive
What do you give up to swim? I gave up most of my social life and I gave up different types sports.
What is your favorite place to compete? KingsPark swimming pool in Durban.
What mental tool do you use under pressure? I sit alone and focus.
What is your favorite mantra? I don’t really have a mantra.
Do you think attitude is a factor in winning?. Nope, absolutely not. Feet on the ground. Always stay humble.
What image gets you ready to compete? To set a goal and smash my pb
How does being an athlete inspire you to do good? I didn’t sacrifice most of life for nothing...
How does athletics make you a better student or worker? It gave me discipline and trained me to stay focused.
3 reasons why you like swimming, being part of a team? Because it’s competitive, it’s brings out a different type of discipline and settles me mentally.
What is the best part about competing? I enjoy Setting goals for every gala, building stepping stones and to challenge myself.
My favorite quote: “ Train insane or remain the same”
Swimmer I would like to meet - Caleb Dressel
How does being an athlete make you a better person? It settles me mentally, teaches me how to focus and live life in a different healthier manner. Hard to explain you have to feel it yourself.
What is the one thing you always do after a good performance? I go and talk to my coach and rest afterwards.
What do you do to calm your butterflies while you compete? Breathing exercises and listening to music.
If you could play another sport what would it be? Boxing
What age were you when you started your swimming? I started learn to swim classes at the age of 3, and started competing at the age of 7.
What is your favorite food to eat the night before a big competition? A BIG rumb stake, cooked to absolute perfection of my liking.
Who inspired you as a young athlete? Chad le Clos
What one word describes you? “Very” Competitive
What do you give up to swim? I gave up most of my social life and I gave up different types sports.
What is your favorite place to compete? KingsPark swimming pool in Durban.
What mental tool do you use under pressure? I sit alone and focus.
What is your favorite mantra? I don’t really have a mantra.
Do you think attitude is a factor in winning?. Nope, absolutely not. Feet on the ground. Always stay humble.
What image gets you ready to compete? To set a goal and smash my pb
How does being an athlete inspire you to do good? I didn’t sacrifice most of life for nothing...
How does athletics make you a better student or worker? It gave me discipline and trained me to stay focused.