If there is one thing Amica de Jager loves, it is to test her physical skills against the challenges of swimming in oceans. Off the pool, she is pursuing her MSc in Computer Science at UP-Tuks.

Judging by the sports results, the Tuks student-athlete has fine-tuned the art of getting the better of rip currents and choppy swells. It has led to her winning numerous national titles in live-saving tournaments over the last eight years. She has even medalled at World Champs. 

Last year was special. Not only did De Jager get to win the South African women's 10km open water race. She also represented South Africa at the World Live Saving Championships and the World Open Water Championships. This month, the Tuks swimmer is off to compete African Beach Games in Tunisia and World Aquatics Championships in Japan, specialising in the 5km and 10km events.

She is not one to make bold predictions about winning medals. 

"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 travelled 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."

De Jager readily admits that she is a "Water baby". Seemingly like a moth can't resist circling around the flickering flame of a candle, she can't wait to be in the water. If she is not working, studying or training, you will find her between the waves on her surfboard. To her, that is the ultimate way to relax. 
According to the Tuks student, becoming an open water swimmer did not just happen. 

"At first, I was genuinely scared to do so. I want to know what is underneath me when I swim. In open water swimming, that is only sometimes possible. So at first, I only swam from bank to bank. As my confidence grew, I got to be more adventurous. Swimming one kilometre, then three, slowly working my way up to swim 10km. 

"Competing in the Nelson Mandela Bay Bellbuoy Challenge for the first time was a game changer for me. It is the race where I have learned to overcome all fear. The Bellbuyo Challenge is rated as one of the toughest Ocean Swims in the World. You are swimming 2.5km out into the sea. You only see water when you get to the Bellbuyo and look back. It truly feels like you are out in the middle of the ocean.

There is no land in sight. You have no clue as to what might be swimming underneath you. I was scared. What saved me was the fact that I was racing. So there was no time to overthink things, especially where the sharks might be. 

"What I love about ocean swimming is that every race has unique challenges. That makes it exciting, said De Jager who twice won the Bellbuoy Challenge.