BROWNS School’s Taiga Igesund (15), who resides in Amanzimtoti, completed his first Aquelle Midmar Mile in a time of 43,39 on Saturday, 9 February, surpassing his whole team and even coach.
This up-and-coming swim star now looks forward to continuing to notch up achievements in the future.
The Amanzimtoti local was chosen as Browns School’s SPAR SuperStar of the Month nominee.
Taiga was born and raised locally and attends Browns School in Pinetown. While he could swim since a young child, he began training seriously last October in preparation for the Capital K in December. On completion of the Capital K in a time of 32,30, he honed his focus on the iconic Midmar Mile. With just over a month to train, Taiga traded in two school lunch breaks a week to notch up more laps in the school swimming pool.
“I trained twice a week during my lunch breaks, and on Saturdays too,” said Taiga. “Swimming was initially scary for me, but then I got into it and now I never want to get out of the pool.”
Taiga explained that he really didn’t expect to do so well at the iconic event.
“My friends, coach Melanie Versagie and I all started the non-company event together. I looked up a while in and couldn’t see anyone, so I thought they’d all swum ahead of me,” he said. The swimmer put his head down and powered to the end of the mile-long (1,6km) event, only to realise he had left behind all friends and even his coach.
“I was so surprised. I thought I’d come third or fourth but then realised they weren’t at the finish line yet. At the school assembly, because I had beaten my coach, I had to give her a carrot in front of the whole school,” he shared. Taiga is already excited to tackle this year’s Capital K and next year’s Midmar Mile.
Proud father Gerard Igesund explained how he truly in awe he is of his son’s love for and dedication to swimming.
“When I drive him up to the school on a Saturday to train, I watch him swim up and down the pool, completing some 80 laps. It makes me tired just watching him!” he exclaimed.
In the classroom, Taiga most enjoys maths, technology and computers. On weekday evenings, he finetunes his skills and works on fitness by doing mixed martial arts (MMA), Man Thai boxing and Brazilian jiujitsu at Seadoone Mall.
“I really enjoy it and have now got my orange belt,” he said.
The swimmer expressed gratitude to Melanie Versagie, who is not only an excellent coach but an amazing person too. He paid appreciation to his friends. “I thank my friends for all the support they show me, and I want them to know that I’ll continue to always support them,” he said.
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