If there’s one thing 19-year-old Nathan Hendricks thrives on, it’s pushing his body to the limit. He spends most mornings and afternoons in the Tuks swimming pool, relentlessly clocking lap after lap. Training for over three hours a day? Just another routine for him.

And as the saying goes, hard work pays off. Last year, Hendricks proudly represented South Africa at the Paralympic Games in Paris, France, competing in four finals. A standout moment was breaking the African record in the 200-meter individual medley—a milestone that cemented his place among the continent’s best.

The Paris Paralympics were a game-changer for the young swimmer.

"I realised that if I want to win a medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, I have to push myself even harder. My backstroke and underwater techniques need serious improvement. That’s why I chose to train at Tuks. Their swimming programme is one of the best, and their results speak for themselves. I also plan to start studying next year."

Hendricks was only eight months old when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Then, at the age of 12, Nathan was diagnosed with stargardt disease—macular dystrophy, a genetic eye disorder that causes progressive vision loss, mainly affecting central vision loss.

"Stargardt has nothing to do with my diabetes. It is genetic. However, uncontrolled glucose levels can cause further damage, but I'm proud to say that my ophthalmologist says there is no sign of diabetic damage. Unfortunately, there is no cure or current treatment for stargardt disease.

Hendricks is not one for self-pity. He made a decision early on that he would not let diabetes and Stargadt disease get him down.

"The fact that I lost sight was not the end of the world. It brought me closer to my parents. I also believe God gave it to me for a reason, so I will find that reason. To me, it will always be about finding something you love and pursuing it to the fullest you can. That is the only way you can live life. 

According to Hendricks, swimming was not always his favourite sport. 

"I used to play blind cricket up to 2019. I never really could bat. I could bowl because before my eyesight became what it is, I still could determine what was what. I used to tell myself I knew I was looking at the wicket but couldn't anymore.

"I switched to swimming because of the eye disease. When I joined a swimming club in Middelburg, there were girls younger than me who swam faster. The turning point was when I went to training camp in 2021. I have never trained as hard. Up until then, I had never trained for two hours. I loved getting my heart rate up and pushing myself to the limit."

When not swimming, Hendricks loves playing online chess. Often for hours on end. He always loves listening to podcasts.