POLOKWANE – Christine Fabo Mbite’s dream of one day participating in the African Games is in reach after she was recently chosen as the only swimmer from Limpopo to take part in the Cana Zone Three Championship in Nairobi, Kenya, later this year.
The 16-year-old, who will join the rest of the South African team, says she never expected to be chosen and was told at swimming practice that she would be representing the country.
The competition will begin on 28 November and Christine told BONUS that she is proud of her achievement.
“Being chosen is a bit scary because it is my first time swimming out of the country but it means a lot that my talent was recognised,” she said.
Breaststroke is Christine’s forte and even though she started swimming when she was six, she only took swimming seriously when she was in Gr 6.
“Swimming is something which I picked up from my brother, he got me interested and I love it.” Besides swimming, Christine is also an athlete and competes in the 100, 200 and 400 m sprints. She also dabbles in netball but she says swimming will remain her passion.
Christine has several gold medals which she can brag with, even though she says the sport humbles her and that she does not like to boast.
“I would like people to swim because it helps you to not be afraid of the water,” she adds.
She sees herself at the Olympic Games one day, just like her idol, Penny Heyns. She thinks of herself as a role model as she says that other swimmers look up to her and this places a big responsibility on her to keep on working hard and make a success of her swimming.
“For this opportunity, I would like to thank my family, friends and coaches for helping me develop my talent and making the most of it.”
Besides swimming, Christine loves drawing and plans to travel to the UK after school.
“I do not know why you are afraid of water, it does not kill you. It is just like oxygen in liquid and in a square hole in the ground,” is her message to people who may not like or want to swim.
