THREE years ago, Michelle Weber’s dream of making the South African squad for the Rio Olympics seemed remote, even more so after she was forced to give up swimming after a debilitating heart problem, which required surgery. However, in true fighting fashion and with the tenacity that Weber is known for, she has now realised her dream. She is the only female swimmer to have qualified for the national team at the Olympics.
She recently took part in the Olympic Games qualifying 10-kilometre open-water marathon event in Setubal, Portugal. The eMdloti resident, alongside Chad Ho, booked their spots for the games in August. The former Crawford College La Lucia pupil needed to finish in the top nine to qualify and ended sixth in a quality field in a time of 1:55:49.70.
SA’s aquatics squad is made up of 15 competitors in Rio, with 10 male pool swimmers in individual events plus two relay members, the two open-water competitors (Weber and Ho), and diver Julia Vincent.
“I cannot believe it, there are just no words to describe the feeling. It’s been my dream forever. I knew I was definitely in the top nine because I led for most of the race. With two kilometres to go the other swimmers overtook me, but I knew I had done enough to qualify. I got out of the water and saw my dad and sister on the finish line and I just broke down in tears because I knew I had done it.
“I was happy crying. Then the congratulatory messages began coming in after the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) tweeted the news out. I’m looking forward to travelling to Rio, but I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family and friends,” she said.
Weber, who earlier this year became the first South African woman to win the aQuellé Midmar Mile women’s race in 13 years, has only swum two other international 10-kilometre races, and said she is looking forward to testing out her mettle on an international field.
“I want to do well in the race and I’m aiming for the top five. It’s my first Olympics so I’m trying not to be overawed by the ocassion. I did swim the course in Rio last year as part of my training but it’s going to be a totally different experience. I’m flying to Italy next week to meet with my coach, Graham Hill,” she said.
