#TuksLifesaving: Tuks lifesaver combines his calling and competition

Posted on September 15, 2020

Perfection or as close to perfection as he can get is what Johan Lourens strives towards each time he dives into a swimming pool.

The Tuks lifesaver has a good reason for doing so. His sport is not only about being faster and better than rivals. Every so often, it can be about trying to save someone from drowning. On such occasions, there can be no margin of error. 

Lourens admits to having had to rescue people but prefers not to elaborate on it, saying that saving somebody is a very intimate experience. 

"Lifesaving is for me the ultimate sport. You got to be as disciplined and fit as in any other sport, but then there is that human factor. Every day we train it is not only about being better than yesterday. We are also learning what to do to help people in need. It becomes a lifestyle. 

"Our sport requires us to do 30 hours of community service in a year. It means working as a lifesaver at school galas or other water sports events. If you don't do it, you are not allowed to compete in any competition."

During championships, each of the events the athletes compete in is a simulation of a rescue attempt. There is the 200m obstacle swim, manikin carry, manikin tow with fins, and super lifesaver. 

The 200m super lifesaver is one in which Lourens excels. During last year’s Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving in England, he won in a time of 2:11.45. It is a South African record. His performance ranked him amongst the top 30 in the world. 

The Tuks athlete also won the 50m, as well as the 100m manikin, carry events in England. Another highlight was finishing seventh in the A-final of the 200m obstacle swim during the 2018 World Championships in Adelaide. During last year's nationals, he won six gold medals. 

Lourens believes he is capable of doing better. 

"It is important to remember that in lifesaving, you get better as you get the older. The statistics will prove it. Most of the records are held by athletes who are 26 and older. I am now 25. So hopefully my best performances are still to come.

"My speed in the water compares quite favourably to the time’s international athletes is swimming. It is the various techniques that I need to work on. When competing locally, it is easy to do things right. 

"It is when you compete internationally that things tend to become challenging. You got to be utterly focussed. During some events, there are quite a lot that can go wrong very quickly, and every second count. The only way I can learn to handle the pressure is by regularly competing against the best."

According to Lourens, his primary focus next year will be the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. He is, however hoping to also get an opportunity to compete in Australia. 

 

- Author Wilhelm de Swardt

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