After only swimming and training for 18 months, seven-year-old Toti swimmer Monica Botha (7) competed against more experienced and older swimmers in her first KZN Speedo junior winter championships at the weekend at the Kings Park pool.
Out of eight events she delivered seven personal best times. This earned her three gold and five silver medals, and the title of the fastest eight-year-old and under female breaststroke swimmer and 100m freestyle swimmer in the province.
Her results were: 50m fly – 44.83 (silver medal and improved time of 1.42 seconds), 100m breaststroke – 1.52.85 (gold medal and improved time of 5.28 seconds), 50m backstroke – 45.01 (silver medal and improved time of 0.11 seconds), 100m freestyle – 1.24.73 (gold medal and improved time of 4.24 seconds), 100m backstroke – 1.42.09 (silver medal and improved time of 2.24 seconds), 50m freestyle – 38.92 (silver medal and improved time of 0.15 seconds), 100m butterfly – 1.44.05 (silver medal – the first time Monica swam this event) and 50m breaststroke – 53.42 (gold medal).
Monica swims for the Seagulls Swim Club and is trained by her father Jan Botha at a local gym under the guidance and programme of coach Jarrod Leach, the head coach at Farramere Primary in Benoni and a level three American swimming association coach.
“I was happy and proud to win three gold and five silver medals,” said the pint-sized athlete.
“I’m not nervous or scared to swim against older girls, because my coach said age should not matter.
I love the programme my coach gives me and I think it helps me achieve personal best times, because I get stronger when I train.”
