Kloof swimmer returns home with silver medal

SOUTH African swimmer Erin Gallagher won a silver medal in the 50m butterfly in the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in England.

Gallagher and teammates, Emma Chelius and Rebecca Meder, all hail from Kloof. The swimmer has represented her country frequently in her career, and she was just 16 when she competed internationally for the first time.

“My first senior trip representing my country was in 2014 for the XX Commonwealth Games in Scotland. It never gets old. It’s a novelty that I don’t think will ever wear out. Every time I put on that green tracksuit, I feel prouder than ever. Sport has such a unique ability to unite a nation, and it’s in those moments that I always feel closer to home, even if we are competing 12 000kms away,” says Gallagher.

Gallagher has consistently won numerous medals when swimming in recent competitions. Most recently, she swam in the 2019 African Games, held in Morocco, and represented her country in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

How it started

Like most successful athletic champions, Gallagher honed her skills from a young age.

“I loved being in water, and I have many fond memories that involve being in a pool. I then started swimming ‘training’ when I was six years old,” she says.

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Gallagher was ambivalent about the sport until she reached Grade Nine.

“I realized I wanted to pursue swimming as a sport, so I dropped all my other activities to focus solely on swimming. I figured out that swimming was my passion, and I could see myself doing it for a long time,” says the swimmer.

The path to success

“I have fortunately worked with some of the best coaches, including Jane Douglass, who taught me to swim, Delon Dannhauser, and Graham Hill, who is the South African team’s head coach. I’m currently with Rocco Meiring in Pretoria, with whom I love every single second of my training,” says Gallagher.

The young swimmer experienced some challenges on the road to the Commonwealth Games as she was disappointed at the Summer Olympic Games.

“My training went well in the pool. However, out of the pool and mentally, I found it challenging. I lost some confidence because I haven’t recorded personal best times in a while, and my Olympic Games competition didn’t go the way I’d planned. This left me questioning my career. To come away with a medal at the Commonwealth Games was unexpected for me,” says the athlete.

What lessons has swimming taught?

Gallagher says that she has learnt from the successes and failures that are inherent to competitive swimming.
“Competitive swimming is the toughest classroom I’ve ever stepped foot in. When I compete, I think I won’t learn anything new, and every time, I’m wrong. Competitive sport teaches you to deal with success as well as failure – it teaches you to deal with pressure and nerves. It shows you where you performed well and where you crashed and burned. It’s gruelling and tiring, but it is worth it. I love my sport for what it teaches me about myself,” says Gallagher.

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Gallagher’s training routine and diet are well-balanced.

“My training consists of eight swim sessions a week, two gym sessions and much eating and sleeping in-between. We have a dietitian, Nicki de Villiers, who looks after our nutrition. I love her programme because it’s a balanced eating plan and accommodates the chocolate milk I like to drink,” says the swimmer.

What is the next chapter?

Gallagher is now studying towards a BSc in Gauteng and says that studying and swimming competitively is challenging.

“It’s been tough to swim and study at the same time, but my squad consists mostly of students, so we figure it out together,” she says.

The young swimmer is honoured to represent her country and appreciates the support from fans.

“I’m in awe as to how supportive this country has been, and I’m grateful for all the messages of love and support I’ve received, even from people I have never met before. It was such an honour to swim for South Africa, and I hope it’s not the last time.”