Amanzimtoti swimmer splashes into SA squad
Making the SA squad was not one of my goals this year.
Monica ‘Mica’ Botha, 13, has been selected to represent South Africa in the junior squad. She is one of 10 KZN swimmers selected for SA squads, of which four are boys and six are girls.
“I was completely surprised (when I heard I had made the SA squad). At the same time I realise it is a great honor and feel excited to swim at CANA (African Swimming Confederation) and represent South Africa at international events as a junior swimmer.
“This is the first time I have been selected. Criteria states that swimmers born in 2006 and 2007 are eligible for selection, so I was too young for previous team selections.”
Her climb up the rankings led to her selection, as Swimming South Africa’s criteria states: ‘Any male or female swimmer born in 2006 or 2007 and who has achieved a top three ranking for that age category’.
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“The letter from Swimming SA does not state which stroke or distance. I do, however, rank in the top three for the 200m and 400m freestyle, so we assume that selection was made based on that.
“This definitely feels like more recognition for all my hours in the pool. Most of my teammates receive recognition from their schools in the form of sports awards, colours and scholarships. I am home-schooled and there is a school sports rule that states home-schooled learners may not participate in inter-school sports. We learned this last year when I wanted to try out for Durban and Districts galas.
“They base this rule on the fact that we do not attend formal classes and it works on the assumption that we have more time to train than school-going learners. Recognition at school level does not matter now, as this is the biggest form of recognition any junior athlete can get and I am very thankful for the opportunity.”
Mica said selection has also given her even more drive to continuing improving. “We set our goals for the 2020/21 year in May, which aims at SA youth times and matches the qualifying times for FINA points, which I will need for future selection processes and it will eventually give me a world ranking.”
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Every year FINA, the international federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee for watersports, defines base times for short and long course, which is determined by the latest FINA-approved world record. It publishs a points table which allows for comparisons of different events. It all works on 1 000 or more points for fast performances and fewer points for slower swimming performances.
“Making the SA squad was not one of my goals this year. It is my goal for 2020-2021/22, as my dream is to qualify for the FINA World Junior Champs (junior worlds for girls 14 to 17-years and boys 15 to 18-years), which takes place every two years. I must also wait for my 14th birthday before I can qualify, so it is a goal for the 2023 junior worlds as I will be 15 by then.”
Mica hopes she will get to swim for SA this year. Africa champs was scheduled to take place at Kings Park Pool this year, but due to COVID-19, has been postponed to December in Durban. “We cannot swim any galas unless the social gathering rule of maximum 50 people changes and we are allowed to travel. I hope all of this changes before January and we can swim international events from January to April next year.”
Junior swimmers normally start with the CANA events to represent SA, but it all depends on the swimming calendar. In 2019 there were events in Namibia, Tunisia and Kenya, and the last event took place in Botswana in February.
“We will most likely be able to attend only one of these galas, as the tours are all self-funded, which means parents pay for travel and to compete unless the swimmer has a sponsor, which I do not have. It is also all a case of wait-and-see with the lockdown travel rules. Right now I would really like to get back to training – my annual registration and the Swimming SA Covid-19 compliance is all done, we are just waiting for the gym to open so that I can get back into the pool.”
Follow Mica on Facebook and Instagram as there are videos of her swimming.
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