Former St Mary’s School, learner Amica-Rose Hallendorff makes waves in Tokyo
WAVERLEY– Former St Mary's School, Waverley learner Amica-Rose Hallendorff recently travelled to Tokyo to compete in the Olympic Games, representing South Africa in the women's water polo team.
Former St Mary’s School learner Amica-Rose Hallendorff has loved sport her entire life and said growing up it had been a ‘far-off dream’ of hers to go to the Olympic Games.
However, while this dream might have seemed unattainable at the time, last year Hallendorff realised it could in fact be reached. Early last year, she and her teammates of the South African women’s water polo team were told that South Africa would be sending a women’s water polo team to the Olympics.
Hallendorff told the Gazette she was already well-established in water polo at the time. As a member of the senior South African women’s water polo team since 2014, she had competed in two World Cups, three World Championships and in the Intercontinental World League. In 2019, the talented athlete even captained the South African women’s team at the World Championships in South Korea.
She said the process to be selected for the prestigious Olympic games had been a tough one which had required everything from her. “We had to attend several selection training camps in the eight months leading up to the Olympics. The camps each lasted around three to four days and were intense,” she added.
However, the news that she had been selected as an Olympian for South Africa made all the hard work worth it. “My family was very proud of me, knowing how much time and effort I have put into my sport over the years. For them, as much as for me, it was the culmination of a long journey I have travelled with them.”
To prepare for the Olympic Games, Hallendorff trained six days a week, three to four hours a time. “I would have a session in the morning which would be either swimming or strength work. These sessions started at 05:30 or 07:00, depending on the day.”
She said evenings were for water polo-specific training, such as fitness drills, passing, shooting and game scenarios.
“Trying to fit training into my schedule was difficult. I work a full-time job as a data analyst, which made it tough to find time to train.”
However, Hallendorff was determined she would give the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity her all.
Further challenges resulted from the unexpected Covid-19 pandemic. “This made it difficult to train with a full squad of players. Leading up to the Olympics we had to reduce the number of players we trained with to avoid the risk of Covid-19 transmission.”
Furthermore, many of the tournaments or matches the team would have played leading up to the Olympics were cancelled, which made preparation for the games more difficult.
But the actual dream was better than Hallendorff had imagined. “I felt very proud to represent my country and walk behind our beautiful flag as we entered the stadium. It was surreal to stand with the best athletes in the world and watch the Olympic torch being lit by Naomi Osaka.”
Hallendorff encouraged others. “One of my favourite quotes when it comes to sport is ‘It will hurt. It will take time. It will require dedication and sacrifice. But it will be worth it.’
“I have had to train many long, hard, lonely, dark hours day after day, month after month, year after year to get to where I am.”
To those with big dreams, she said, “Don’t give up, even when it feels like all is lost, whether this be due to an injury or other circumstances. You will be grateful you did not give up.”
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