Catching a tan is not all Tuks athletes have been doing at the African Beach Games in Hammamet, Tunisia. They have also been winning medals.

Amica de Jager won gold in the swimming event. Bea Meiring won silver in beach wrestling, while Alexandra Ennis teamed up with Ziyanda Gwamanda in rowing to win silver.

De Jager, who competed at the World Open Water Swimming Championships and the World Live Saving Championships last year, did not want to make bold predictions before she dived at the Beach Champs.

She gave a slightly philosophical answer when asked what would make her happy in Tunisia. 

"I can only promise that I will try to swim at my absolute best. Nothing worthy in life comes for free or is easily obtained. One must dedicate oneself to the process. Hopefully, the journey and all its obstacles will make the destination priceless. I constantly strive for perfection and have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and self-improvement.

"The road less traveled has always been the road for me. I want to do something extraordinary with my life. It is why I am motivated every time I read Colin Kaepernick's (Nike) quote, "Don't ask if your dreams are crazy; ask if they are crazy enough. It is what keeps me pushing the boundaries."

Winning the gold medal means that the Tuks MSc Computer Science student has qualified to compete in August at the World Beach Games in Bali. She will also be in action at the World Swimming Championships in Japan, competing in the 5km and 10km open water events. 

Meiring winning silver is remarkable. The Beach Games is only her third time competing at a wrestling event. The black belt judoka took up wrestling at the end of last year. Meiring has yet to compete in South Africa. She has so far only been competing internationally. 

She finished fourth at Singapore's World Series Beach Wrestling Tournament two weeks ago.

In Tunisia, she was victorious against Kenia's Winrose Alivisa and Tunisia's Khadija Jlassi. Senegal's Safidou Goudiaby seemed to be her nemesis. Meiring lost twice against her. 

Beach wrestling takes place on the sand. It is a standing-up position style of wrestling, where no moves happen while on the ground. All bouts last for a single period of 3 minutes. Points are awarded for specific movements. If any part of a wrestler's body, except the feet, contacts the ground, it results in a takedown. Takedowns are awarded one point. One point is awarded to a player if the opponent is pushed out. Two points are awarded for a takedown where the back makes contact with the ground. The first to three is the winner.