By GARY LEMKE
Kat Swanepoel, who delivered Team SA’s first medal of the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester considers her performance as a “massive achievement”. She had finished fourth in last year’s SB3 50m breaststroke final and improved to take silver a year later in Manchester.
“Coming into these Championships my goals were to focus on what we’ve been working on and continue the build-up to the 2024 Paris Paralympics. So this was a massive achievement for me. Breaststroke has never been my speciality and at best I was hoping to match my fourth place from last year’s world champs. So to get the silver is huge.”
However, Swanepoel doesn’t have much time to rest and reflect on her laurels. “I am hoping for a couple of personal bests in the events that we have been focusing on the most. While it’s a big moment for me to take in, I realise that I still have a week of racing ahead of me. Luckily today’s (Tuesday) 100m freestyle is a warm-up race for me for my 150m Individual Medley. It’s nice for me to get the confidence from a good first swim, but I also ned to stay focused going forward.”
Swanepoel said that during the 50m breaststroke her focus was “to stay ina calm but alert state of mind, to get off the wall quickly and maintain a steady stroke rate throughout the length”. Mission accomplished.
She allowed herself to reflect on what it means to represent her country. “I become quite emotional when thinking how much it means to me to represent South Africa. I am always so aware and grateful of how many people have sacrificed so much for us to have the privilege of wearing our flag with pride. Each time I wear the green and gold I am conscious of all those at home who do not have the opportunities that we have been given.”
Swanepoel is one of six swimmers representing Team SA at these Championships in Manchester.