Swimmers Profiles & Swimmer of the Month

Justine Macfarlane – 2012 Olympic Squad – Breaststroke and IM – SA Youth Team and 2011 Junior Commonwealth Games

2011-11-28T22:00:00.000-08:00

Q: At what age did you start swimming?
A: I started swimming when I was 6 years old.

Q: Was your first club Waterborn. If not at which club did you start your swimming career with?
A: No. My first club was Linrand.

Q: How many years have you been at Waterborn? You obviously enjoy the vibe? Tell us a little on this?
A: For about 5 years. I look forward to training and I like that our sets aren’t boring. It’s easy to enjoy training when the people around you enjoy it as well.

Q: Do you believe that it is good to train on all these juices the market offers? Do you take multi-vitamins?
A: I don’t think that the juice you take will make you any faster but I do drink 32GI for galas and training. I take vitamins every morning.

Q: Do you follow a specific diet during the season, hard training and then adjust this prior to race days? What nutritional aspects do you think are important for a swimmer to know.
A: I eat healthily throughout the year and I drink lots of water. I eat more when we’re training hard and my portions are smaller going into big galas because we’re not training hard. I hardly ever eat junk food or drink fizzy drinks.

Q: How do / did you cope with both school academics and the time required to train each day?
A: I try and get most of my homework done at school so that I can go to training and not worry about work. I’m also a fast worker so I get through it quickly.

Q: What do you think makes you a stronger person? Who / what has helped you?
A: I think losing or not reaching a goal makes me stronger. When you lose you pick yourself up and get stronger so that you can win.

Q: What are your swimming strengths? What are your swimming weaknesses? What have you done to try and build on your weaknesses?
A: My main strength is Breaststroke. My main weakness was fly but I spent the winter working on fly and its getting better.

Q: When did you realise that you could achieve a higher level of success?
A: At about the beginning of grade 8 I started training hard and I was dropping lots of
time. Also when I got selected for the S.A youth team to go overseas.

Q: What makes you want to succeed at swimming at the highest level – what drives you to want to be one of the best?
A: I like being the best at what I do and I think succeeding in something is a great feeling.

Q: Is there a specific time of the year that you find the workouts most challenging and when is this?
A: The end of the year when we get out of winter training up until Seniors the following year. The sets are longer and harder.

Q: When you are in the midst of a challenging workout what goes through your head –what do you think about or tell yourself?
A: I tell myself that the pain isn’t going to last forever.

Q: Can you think of a moment in your swimming career that was not fun (or did not feel like anything positive could come of it) when it happened, but looking back, taught you something that has helped make you a better swimmer?
A: About 3 years ago I wanted to quit swimming because I used to get so stressed and nervous to race and to train that I didn’t want to do it any more. Now I can control my nerves and that makes me race better and makes training more enjoyable.

Q: Have you ever been drug tested – what was the experience like?
A: No I haven’t.

Q: What is it about swimming or you that keeps you in the pool?
A: I love the sport and it is rewarding if you work hard.

Q: Any message you have for up and coming swimmers?
A: Don’t swim for any one but yourself. If you don’t want to do it, there is no point.

Q: What Music is on your IPOD? Who is your favourite artist?
A: I have lots of different kind of music. From some old stuff to song they would play on radio. I don’t have a favourite artist but I like OneRepublic, Hot Chelle Rae and 30 Seconds to Mars.

Q: What’s your favourite food-treat?
A: I love popcorn. I also love jellybeans but I don’t get those very often.

Q: What movies do you prefer? Name some of them.
A: I enjoy fantasy type movies like Harry Potter.

Q: Do you watch much TV – do you have a favourite programme?
A: I don’t watch a lot of TV because I am busy most of the time but I like shows like Hawaii Five-0, CSI and The Mentalist.

Q: Do you prefer to read books or magazines. Favourite author / magazine
A: I prefer books. I like lots of authors, P.C Cast, Lauren Kate and Pitticus Lore. One of my favourite books is The Host by Stephanie Meyer.

Q: Do you follow international swimming?
A: Yes. I like to know how fast the top swimmers are swimming so that I have something to work towards.

Q: What do you think about before races?
A: I always go through my race in my head before I have to swim it and before the actual race I try to clear my mind and relax and not worry about what’s happening around me.

Q: What are your goals for the next 2 to 4 years?
A: I want to get my times as close to Olympic qualifying times as I can and I want to be selected for the National Senior Squad.

Trainer of the Month – July to August 2011

2011-09-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

WATERBORN RANDBURG

Stroke Correction – Kayleigh Trainer
Promising Juniors – Louise MacDonnell
Junior Age-Group – Courtney MacFarlane
Level 3 Squad – Elke van der Walt
2012 Olympic Target Squad – Heinrich Schoeman

WATERBORN BRIGHTWATER COMMONS

Stroke Correction – Kiano dos Santos
Promising Juniors 1 – Martin Deacon
Promising Juniors 2 – Cesare Favini
Junior Age-Group – Kelly van den Heever
Senior Age-Group – Jason Zebert

WATERBORN LINDEN

Christopher Slaghuis

Dylan Bosch

2011-07-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

Main stroke: BUTTERFLY/FREESTYLE/IM
Squad Allocation: 2012 OLYMPIC TARGET SQUAD

1. At what age did you start swimming?
Around 10 years old.

2. Was your first club Waterborn. If not at which club did you start your swimming career with?
No, started at Orca Acquatics.

3. How many years have you been at Waterborn? You obviously enjoy the vibe? Tell us a little on this?
Currently in my 8th year. Love the vibe. Really good having two committed world class coaches to work with and a team that understands what needs to be done and supports every individual.

4. Do you believe that it is good to train on all these juices the market offers? Do you take multi-vitamins?
I don’t think there are advantages or disadvantages to it. I personally just enjoy something to keep me hydrated during tough sets but can go without it. Yes to drinking multi-vitamins.

5. Do you follow a specific diet during the season, hard training and then adjust this prior to race days? What nutritional aspects do you think are important for a swimmer to know.
Not on any specific diet, just get in what my body needs to recover and what I enjoy. Will carboload with pastas, and light but filling meals during competition.

6. How do / did you cope with both school academics and the time required to train each day?
I find it easy, school is very accommodating and have time to do work at school. Find it essential to train and get away from working all day – enjoy training.

7. What do you think makes you a stronger person? Who / what has helped you?
Think I have developed a strong mind. Peter and Frank have taught me that this is essential to become the best. Family has been a big influence with support which makes it easier.

8. What are your swimming strengths? What are your swimming weaknesses? What have you done to try and build on your weaknesses?
Believe I’m hard (not to the full extent though) and have a strong mind. Find it hard to keep up with dryland and hard training but have pushed myself through it. Obviously stroke work but working close with Peter and Frank to ensure the correct technique of the stroke.

9. When did you realise that you could achieve a higher level of success?
Since I have been putting in the hard work and realised that it pays off, has kept me going through tough times. Success boosts my confidence wanting to make me work harder. Failure also encourages me to up my game.

10. What makes you want to succeed at swimming at the highest level – what drives you to want to be one of the best?
Achieving success and wanting to be the best drives me to achieve a higher standard every time I’m in the pool. The desire to be the best drives me.

11. Is there a specific time of the year that you find the workouts most challenging and when is this?
All year round. Enjoy pushing myself and enjoy hard workouts. Becomes hard when we have to gym and train at a high standard through exhaustion and pain.

12. When you are in the midst of a challenging workout what goes through your head –what do you think about or tell yourself?
Just to push harder. Think of the rewards that will come out of it.

13. Can you think of a moment in your swimming career that was not fun (or did not feel like anything positive could come of it) when it happened, but looking back, taught you something that has helped make you a better swimmer?
Never not had fun in the pool. However, when one fails to achieve a goal you set, it can be demotivating, but at the same time motivates me to work harder. Peter and Frank have both taught me, it is not about achieving at a young age, but doing it when it counts and on the big stage.

14. Have you ever been drug tested – explain the experience?
Yes at the Youth Olympics. It was a good experience but can become tiring when you get home at 1am and have to race again the next day.

15. What is it about swimming or you that keeps you in the pool?
The desire and need to be the best I can be to achieve my goals. Having the best coaches in SA and the best team vibe.

16. Any message you have for up and coming swimmers?
Always train hard. You cannot achieve on just talent. If sessions/ training become too hard, just push through it. Think of the reward. A motto to live by “Harden the #^*& up” makes tough times so much easier.

Swimmer Profile – Megan Stephens

2010-11-21T01:33:00.000-08:00

Name of Swimmer: MEGAN KATE STEPHENS
Main stroke: FREESTYLE
Squad Allocation: ELITE MIDDLE DISTANCE

1. At what age did you start swimming?

I started training and swimming CGA’s when I was 15.

2. Was your first club Waterborn. If not at which club did you start your swimming career with?

My first club was Sharks.

3. How many years have you been at Waterborn? You obviously enjoy the vibe? Tell us a little on this?

I have been with Waterborn for 4 years, I was with Andrea at Linden for my first year. I love Waterborn, the vibe is great. Everyone supports and pushes each other in and out of the pool. We are closer than most other squads.

4. Do you believe that it is good to train on all these juices the market offers? Do you take multi-vitamins?

I don’t really train on juices and stuff like that but I guess it’s just up to the swimmer and what make them happy. I just take Vitamin C and stuff to keep my immune system up.

5. Do you follow a specific diet during the season, hard training and then adjust this prior to race days? What nutritional aspects do you think are important for a swimmer to know.

I try to eat ‘healthy’, I don’t add salt or sugar to my food, use butter or drink fizzy drinks. I eat lots of veggies. I think a swimmer needs to remember that what works for one person may not work for you, so you need to figure that out for yourself.

6. How do/did you cope with both school academics and the time required to train each day?

Time management! I have always planned my day keeping in mind that I have 2 hours less in my day than other kids, I don’t waste time.

7. What do you think makes you a stronger person? Who / what has helped you?

My family has helped and so have Peter & Frank. They have taught me a lot about life not just swimming. Keeping in mind my goals keeps me going and pushing myself makes me stronger.

8. What are your swimming strengths? What are your swimming weaknesses? What have you done to try and build on your weaknesses?

My strength is longer distance and pulling. My weakness is kicking…. I suck at kicking. I just remind myself everyday what my goals are and I push hard in training.

9. When did you realise that you could achieve a higher level of success?

When I swam a 2.24 for 200m free and Pete shouted at me and told me I should be swimming a 2.08, half a year later I did.

10. What makes you want to succeed at swimming at the highest level – what drives you to want to be one of the best?

Seeing people I know perform at such high levels like Jean and Chad makes me want to be at that level too. Athletes like Penny Heyns, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps are real inspiration to me.

11. Is there a specific time of the year that you find the workouts most challenging and when is this?

TRAINING CAMP! Obviously it’s the hardest, two weeks of training twice a day is the point where people can really break down or step-up.

12. When you are in the midst of a challenging workout what goes through your head –what do you think about or tell yourself?

Honestly, I tell myself that if the boys (Ricky Ellis in particular) can do this, then so can I. Sometimes I shout or complain in my head but it always goes back to my goals and what I want from swimming.

When I had my appendix removed 2 weeks before level 3 in 2009. I was worried but I still ended up swimming well, “If you do it on a bad day you can do it on any day”.

14. Have you ever been drug tested – what was the experience like?

Yeah, a little scary but I had nothing to worry about.

15. What is it about swimming or you that keeps you in the pool?

I guess you can say that swimming is my “safe place”, it’s the place where I am most comfortable and at ease. I think I am addicted to the water.

16. Any message you have for up and coming swimmers?

Nothing is more powerful that your mind! If you set goals and stick to them then you can achieve anything. You have to work for it though, nothing comes without hard work. “Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men”.

Swimmer Profile – Ricky Ellis

2010-11-21T01:29:00.000-08:00

Name of Swimmer: RICKY ELLIS
Main stroke: BACKSTROKE
Squad Allocation: ELITE MIDDLE DISTANCE

1. At what age did you start swimming?

4 years.

2. Was your first club Waterborn. If not at which club did you start your swimming career with?

No – first club was Wanderers.

3. How many years have you been at Waterborn? You obviously enjoy the vibe? Tell us a little on this?

Since Pete started. The vibe is great. The people you meet at swimming are like your best friends. You go through a lot with them and we enjoy the time spent together.

4. Do you believe that it is good to train on all these juices the market offers? Do you take multi-vitamins?

Yes – I have been using juices most of my life and believe it helps your training. I take multi-vitamins every night.

5. Do you follow a specific diet during the season, hard training and then adjust this prior to race days? What nutritional aspects do you think are important for a swimmer to know.

Not really, I tend to carbo-load before competition. I think it is important to eat a lot of carbs and make sure you have a recovery drink after sets to replace lost fluids.

6. How do / did you cope with both school academics and the time required to train each day?

Friends helping me with homework due to the time constraints. Once in routine it gets a bit easier.

7. What do you think makes you a stronger person? Who / what has helped you?

Completing goals. Learning from your mistakes. Coaches and peers help with this a lot.

8. What are your swimming strengths? What are your swimming weaknesses? What have you done to try and build on your weaknesses?

Strength to weight ratio. I concentrate more on my swimming strengths than my weaknesses. I try putting more effort into the things I am not so good at.

9. When did you realise that you could achieve a higher level of success?

My coach believing in me and letting me know I could achieve at a higher level.

10. What makes you want to succeed at swimming at the highest level – what drives you to want to be one of the best?

Being the best your body can be. Watching the best in the world and swimming next to these huge figures. Traveling around the world.

11. Is there a specific time of the year that you find the workouts most challenging and when is this?

Maybe winter due to the cold air. I like training in warm conditions.

12. When you are in the midst of a challenging workout what goes through your head –what do you think about or tell yourself?

A lot of screaming in my head. I will just tell myself it will be finished soon and I must make sure I do my best.

In Primary School peers would compare me to jean, Greg and Walter so it was tough at times when you didn’t win. You should not worry about what other people think and just focus on personal goals and yourself.

14. Have you ever been drug tested – what was the experience like?

Yes, it was a bit stressful as I had taken a nose spray and was worried that something funny was it in, but it turned out ok.

15. What is it about swimming or you that keeps you in the pool?

The chance to do something great and realise some of your dreams.

16. Any message you have for up and coming swimmers?

It’s very easy to quit, but if you quit you will never know what your true potential could have been so keep at it!

Swimmer of the Month

2010-11-20T11:37:00.000-08:00

Randburg Squad

Elite Sprint Anrich Bekker
Elite Mid-Distance Ricky Ellis
Junior Age Group Paige Derbyshire
Promising Junior Marne Groenewald
Stroke Correction Jenna Van Niekerk

Brightwater Commons

Stroke Correction Rebecca Louw
PJ Group 1 Hannah McLoughlin
PJ Group 2 Julia Haler
Junior Age Group Claire Wiggan
Senior Age Group Dayen Wilson

Swimmer of the Month – April, May, Juny & July 2010

2010-07-21T22:43:00.000-07:00

Randburg Squad

Elite Sprint – Robyn Sher
Elite Mid-Distance – Michael Stephens
Junior Age Group – Cheyenne Smith
Promising Junior – Tracy-Lee Young
Stroke Correction – Alono Conradie

Linden Squad

Promising Junior – Simba Chagweda
Elite – Melissa Hemmings

Brightwater Commons

PJ Group 1 – Laurent Blom
PJ Group 2 – Kristiaan Blom
Junior Age Group – Carla du Toit
Senior Age Group – Dayen Wilson

Swimmer of the Month – January & February 2010

2010-03-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

Randburg Squad

Elite Sprint Marguerite Van Zyl
Elite Mid-Distance Christopher Brill
Junior Age Group Ivana Francescutti
Promising Junior Nicoli van der Merwe
Stroke Correction Andre Groenewald

Linden Squad

Stroke Correction Jessie Wainer
Promising Juniors Simba Chagweda
Junior Elite Sinead Roberts

Brightwater Commons

Promising Juniors Helen Wertheim-Aymes
Stroke Correction Ronan Pleass
Junior Age Group Dayen Wilson
Senior Age Group Rankin Mostert

Swimmer of the Month – November & December 2009

2010-01-15T21:29:00.000-08:00

Randburg Squad

Elite Sprint Sabrina Kaszechki
Elite Mid-Distance Nicole Harris
Junior Age Group MJ Buys
Promising Junior Tracy-Lee Young
Stroke Correction Mikail Hassim

Linden Squad

Stroke Correction Jessi Bloch
Promising Juniors Matthew Rosenthal
Junior Elite Darren Britz

Brightwater Commons

Promising Juniors Helen Wertheim-Aymes
Stroke Correction Kristian Blom
Junior Age Group Seif Omar
Senior Age Group Jobst Frank

Swimmer of the Month – August & September 2009

2009-10-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

RANDBURG SQUAD

Elite Sprint – Chanel Johnston
Elite Mid-Distance – Nicholas van Niekerk
Junior Age Group – Luca Kaszechki
Promising Junior – Lara Luitingh
Stroke Correction – Michael van Vuuren

LINDEN SQUAD

Stroke Correction – Thomas Venter
Promising Juniors – Craig Hannenberg
Junior Elite – Ashley Holden

BRIGHTWATER COMMONS

Promising Juniors – Ingrid Wertheim-Aymes
Stroke Correction – Teagynne Wilson
Junior Age Group – Ryno du Toit
Senior Age Group – Megan Shipton

Swimmer of the Month – June & July 2009

2009-07-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

Randburg Squad

Elite Sprint – Kirsty McLauchlan
Elite Mid-Distance – Dylan Bosch
Junior Age Group – Samantha Young
Promising Junior – Mich-Jan Buys
Stroke Correction – Ross van Oortmerssen

Linden Squad

Stroke Correction – Christian Kriel
Promising Juniors – Devon Limbeek
Junior Elite – Zack Fineberg

Brightwater Commons

Promising Juniors – Amber Paige Saunders
Senior Squad – Greg Arendse

Swimmer of the Month – March & April

2009-04-21T07:28:00.000-07:00

Randburg Squad

Elite – Ricky Ellis
Senior Age Group – Nicole Harris
Junior Age Group – Sabrina Kaszechi
Promising Junior – Simran Kaur
Stroke Correction – Ross van Oortmerssen

Linden Squad

Stroke Correction– Christiaan Kriel
Promising Juniors – Zack Fineberg
Junior Elite – Robyn Sher

Brightwater Commons

Promising Juniors – James Bezuidenhout
Senior Squad – Donald Robertson

December Swimmer of the Month

2009-02-09T07:35:00.001-08:00

Randburg Squad
Elite – Dylan Bosch
Senior Age Group – Daniel Louw
Junior Age Group – Frances van der Walt
Promising Junior – Tanja Abrie
Stroke Correction – Daniel Opperman
Linden Squad
Stroke Correction– Darren Britz
Promising Juniors – Samantha Kirby-Smith
Junior Elite - Ciara Quinn
Sandton Squad
Liam Diss
Dayen Wilson

September Swimmers of the Month

2008-11-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

Randburg Squad

Elite Squad – Kyle Duckitt
Senior Age Group – Jason Renecke
Junior Age Group – Caitlin Hughes
Promising Juniors – Courtney Macfarlane
Stroke Correction – Sebastian Welke

Linden Squad

Stroke Correction – Timothy Mather
Promising Juniors – Claire Wiggan
Junior Elite – Ashley Holden

Sandton Squad

Dayen Wilson

Swimmer of the Month – August 2008

2008-09-23T22:14:00.000-07:00

Randburg Squad

Elite – Gregory Stojakovic
Senior Age Group – Daniel Louw
Junior Age Group – Anrich Bekker
Promising Junior – Kate Beavon
Stroke Correction – Mich-Jan Buys

Linden Squad

Stroke Correction– Ashleigh Webber
Promising Juniors – Samantha Kirby-Smith
Junior Elite – Nicholas Lawrence

Sandton Squad

No swimmer of month for August as the squads have been on their annual training break.

Swimmer of the Month – June 2008

2008-07-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

Randburg Squad

Elite – Kris Matulovich
Junior Elite – Ashleigh Brown
Promising Juniors – Melica Everitt
Stroke Correction – Kyle Kennaugh

Linden Squad

Stroke Correction – Jamie Burns
Promising Juniors – Andre Coetzee
Junior Elite – Lauren Webber

Sandton Squad

Daniel Huang

April Swimmers of the Month

2008-06-14T00:52:00.000-07:00

Randburg Squad

Elite – Meghan Stephens
Junior Elite – Cassandra Gibson
Promising Juniors – Samantha Young
Stroke Correction – Laura Berzen

Linden Squad

Senior – Kirsty McLauchlan
Junior – Brittany Coetzer
Stroke Correction – Danny Hechter