To be the best and win a medal at a world championship is important to Johan Lourens but it is not the main reason why he decided to take up lifesaving.
The Tuks lifesaver sees his sport also as a calling and a way to make a difference in the community.
His passion and dedication led to him receiving the male athlete of the year award at the SA Lifesaving prize giving. He has also been selected to represent South Africa in November in Adelaide at the World Lifesaving Championships. It is the second time that he will be doing so. He is looking forward to the challenge.
Lourens’s speciality events are the 200m obstacle swim and 100m manikin tow with fins. If he is able to execute the perfect race, he hopes to get at least a top-five finish, but his real goal is to win a medal. However, he is the first to admit that the rivalry at a world championship is often taken to the next level which means he really will have to be at his best.
Two years ago South Africa finished ninth in the team competition. Lourens is confident that this time around they will be able to improve on it.
When asked what he considers to be a highlight Lourens surprisingly does not refer to his own heroics.
“Last year Lifesaving South Africa received the award as the best sports federation in South Africa. To me, that is exciting as it shows that everybody in the sport must be doing something right. Getting the award is the ideal way to promote lifesaving as a sport and to create a countrywide awareness for water safety.”
According to Lourens, he has been doing water sports from when he can remember. At first, he was an avid open water swimmer. He completed the Midmar Mile a few times, but the moment he got introduced to lifesaving, everything changed.
“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 not only to become faster and more efficient in the water, but 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.”
The Tuks lifesaver admits to having had to rescue people but prefers not to elaborate on it, just saying that saving somebody is a very intimate experience.
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