By GARY LEMKE
Michael Houlie is still only 23, but he seems to have been around for a long time and is one of the senior statesmen when it comes to South African swimmers.
The breaststroke star, who is based in the United States where he studies at the University of Tennessee, is currently in China, having travelled there after the recent World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
However, he has one eye on the Commonwealth Youth Games, which spring into life in Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday. For it was at the 2017 event in Nassau, Bahamas where the then 17-year-old announced his arrival on the international stage.
Houlie won gold in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke and feels that the Games were an important part of his development. There are six teenagers representing Team SA at the 2023 installment – Jessica Thompson, Simone Moll, Cassidy Burgers, Kian Keylock, Kris Mihaylov and Jarden Eaton.
And Houlie took time out of his schedule to talk exclusively to Team SA about his Commonwealth Youth Games experiences.
“It was a great opportunity for me at the time. It was my first big international trip, and it gave me the opportunity to be in a different country, competing against internationals, and experience a different culture. No question, it helped elevate my swimming career and was an important stepping stone. After that I went to the junior world championships and the senior Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, in 2018,” Houlie said.
“I think that this year’s Youth Games are similar to what I experienced in 2017. Because we were in the Bahamas and the current team is in Trinidad & Tobago. The Bahamas was the
ultimate holiday destination. The people were amazing and the food was good. During that meet I made some close friends and many friendships started there. The camaraderie and connections were a highlight.
“It also boosted my confidence, I rode that high that I was on from winning double gold and carried that energy forward. It set me on my path. It ranks pretty high in my list of swimming memories, even though I am six years older. I only have positive memories from that trip.”
Houlie also had some words of advice for the class of 2023. “My advice is simple. Have fun, enjoy every single moment and be grateful for the opportunity. If you do that the rest will fall into place.”