#TuksSwimming: 15-year old Coetzee wants to qualify for Commonwealth Games final

Posted on January 31, 2018

The 15-year-old swimmer, Duné Coetzee, is the youngest member of the South African Commonwealth Games team.

The Tuks swimmer has over December qualified in the 200m-butterfly (2:12.52), 200m-freestyle (2:02.68) and the 400m-freestyle (4:22.58) for the Games.

What Coetzee might lack in years she makes up with tenacity.

“Getting the opportunity to compete at the Commonwealth Games is certainly going to be my toughest swimming challenge ever. But I am looking forward to it. I hope I can learn enough that would stand me in good stead for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The nice thing is that Australia is in the nearly same time zone than Japan so I will get an idea of how my body will adapt to the change,” said the current South African senior 200m-butterfly champion.

“I am a big fan of Rafael Nadal. The one thing that stood out when I read his biography is his utter determination. He states when he competes he plays each shot as if it is going to be his last. It is something I admire. It is not always easy, but when I train or compete, my goal is also to give a 100%. There can never be any resting on one’s laurels. 

“It is going to be a tall order, but I think on a good day if I do everything right I might just be able to qualify for a final. My goal will be at least to swim one personal best at the Games. I owe it to myself to do so.”

Coetzee said that the 200m-butterfly is her favourite stroke. Her best time of 2:12.52 ranks her in the top 20 in the Commonwealth Countries. 

The Tuks swimmer ascribed her success to putting in the long hard hours.

"From August my coach, Linda de Jager, and I worked on improving my times in the 200-metre events. I am excited about the times I have swum in December as it proves that if you are prepared to put in the hard work, you will reap the rewards."

Tatjana Schoenmaker (silver medalist in the 200m-breaststroke at last year’s World Student Game) and Nathania van Niekerk who missed out by 0.60s to qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio in the 200m-backstroke are the other two female Tuks swimmers in the Commonwealth Games team.  Both Schoenmaker and Van Niekerk are old TuksSport High School learners).

According to Van Niekerk, she currently ranks as one of the 20 best 200m-backstroke swimmers in the Commonwealth countries. However, she is confident that from now to April she will be able to improve on the time she swam in Durban.

"If I can get close to my best time of 2:11.33 there is a real chance for me to qualify for the final at the Commonwealth Games."


The one thing not a lot of people might know about Van Niekerk is that she motorcar fundi. If you ask her anything about the latest technology in the motor industry or any specifications about luxury cars she will be able to give the right answers. 

Her older brother and nephews got her interested. It was a classic case if you cannot beat them join them. So she also got involved in keeping abreast of what is happening in the world of cars. She still does through Instagram and Facebook.

If money were not an option, she would love to buy herself a Mercedes AMG S63 Sedan or a Jaguar XF-R Sport.

- Author Wilhelm de Swardt

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