Clinton on his way to the top
There is a rare breed of Alberton athletes whose charismatic presence on the track or road stimulates the anticipation of the spectator who imagines the skills that unfolded before their eyes.
ALBERTON – As far back as 1958 there was the SA mile champion Lennie Praamsma, then Charmaine Fick, who was born on June 3, 1957 in Alberton as Chairmane Mennigke, still one of the athletes at the top of the all-time 400 metres hurdles record list with her 55 min 59 seconds. In recent years Jean du Rand and Hannes Dreyer on the track at national and international level also formed part of that special breed, just to highlight a few.
But now there is a special Alberton athlete who is ready to step into that special breed firmament.
He is the charismatic Clinton Swanepoel who is a lethal ace on the running circuit.
Twenty-five-year-old Clinton, who was born on April 4, 1989, ended the 2014 running year on top with his selection to compete in the world relay marathon in France as a member of the ten-men SA-France team which finished as runners-up.
In the same year Clinton won the SA u.23 cross-country title, top three on the track, USSA championship runner-up and a personal best of 30:34 for 10 km at national level. Locally, Clinton won the popular annual Alberton 10 km race and set the all-time record for the Alberton time trials over 4 km.
It all started for this likeable young man 17 years ago, when as an eight-year-old boy he started running, and lifted in his first year the Central Gauteng u.10 cross-country title. Still in u.10 age group he won the SA 1200 metres title in 3:52:07, which was just the indicator of great things to come.
But let the man of the moment himself tells his remarkable story:
“In the year of 2012, I won the u.23 senior men South African Cross Country Championships in Amanzimtoti, Kwa-Zulu Natal as well as finishing third on the track at the u.23 South African championships in the 1500 meter event.
“On the Track and Field side I have missed a few South African Championships due to injury, but since 2009 I haven’t missed out on the Track and Field South African Championships and have improved on my times each year.”
Athletics annuals told the remainder of his special story, which could fill books.
Now at age 25, he is currently ranked top 10 in the 1500m in South Africa with a personal best sea level time of 3:42:47, He has a personal best inland time of 3:47:80 and was also ranked in the top ten of both the 3000m with a personal best time 8:20:20 and the 5000m with a personal best time of 13:48:20. All the above times have been run in 2012. At the end of the 2012 track and field season he was also ranked in the world in the 1500m.
Who is the man Clinton Swanepoel behind the brilliant athlete?
“At the beginning of 2015, I’m looking forward to upcoming events like the student world games. I am a hardworking person who believes one only achieves what one puts into whatever you do in life.
“I truly believe all my years of hard work and tears will pay off. I always had a dream of becoming an Olympian. Since I can remember I set goals for myself and worked towards these goals to achieve my dream. I thank God every day for my talents and I believe I owe it to Him to use these talents and improve on my skill as an athlete.
“I receive coaching from coach Deon Swanepoel, who is also my father. I have been coached by him for the past 15 years. He is an inspiration, and even though he is my father he never takes it easy on me. All my success thus far would never have happened if it wasn’t for him. He is my coach, my father and my mentor. I owe it all to him and he truly deserves a medal,” said Clinton.
Currently Clinton is a student at the University of Johannesburg, and in his final year of studying for his second degree in BA Sports Psychology, he graduated BED Education (FET phase) degree in 2012.
Clinton is really making Alberton proud every time he is putting his running shoes on, and he is without doubt the gem in Alberton athletics crown.
