TuksSport High School learners: Christin Mundell & James Freeman
The UP-Tuks swimmer, Duné Coetzee, admits there will be butterflies fluttering in her tummy when she dives into the pool for her first race during the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.
It is not a case of her being nervous doubting her abilities, but more about anticipation. Sort of an adrenaline rush waiting to happen. It has been five months since the 16-year old has competed at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and a lot has changed. She feels stronger and faster. Now she got to prove that it is not only her imagination.
Coetzee said the most important thing she learned from her participation at the Games is that she belongs in the international arena.
“I know now that at a major international gala you got to swim at your best every time. You won’t qualify for a final by saving yourself in the heats. It is flat out from the start. Cameron van der Burgh told me that you always got a chance to win no matter who is swimming next to you.
“The competition during the Games was amazing. I got to improve my best time in the 200m-butterfly to 2:12.38 and swam some of my fastest times in the other events I competed. To compete in the 4x200m-relay in which the Aussies broke the Commonwealth-record was a special experience. All that excitement led to me swimming 2:03.32 which is also best for me.”
Since the Games Coetzee has started doing some gym work. According to her nothing major the focus being mostly to improve her explosive strength.
“When swimming, I can feel that I am faster over 50 metres and that I am able to sustain that speed for longer periods. So, yes, I am excited to compete at the Youth Games because it is one thing to train and something else to compete.”
Coetzee will be competing in all three the butterfly-events (50m, 100m and 200m) as well as the 200m-freestyle and the 400m-freestyle. Her primary goal will be to try and qualify for as many finals as possible.
Christin Mundell (TuksSport High School) will also be competing at the Youth Games.
Earlier this year during the South African National Junior Age Group Championships in Durban Mundell won six gold medals (50m-breaststroke, 100m-breaststroke, 200m-breaststroke, 200m-freestyle, 400m-freestyle and 200m individual medley).
At the Games, she will compete in all three breaststroke events as well as the 200m individual medley.
According to Rocco Meiring (coach), he will be happy if she gets to swim the same times she swam during the national championships. If she does Mundell will have a realistic chance to qualify for the semi-finals or even a final.
James Freeman (TuksSport High School) will be representing Botswana at the Games.
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