The Sixteenth African Junior Championships was under way in Cairo, Egypt. Among those who shone as one of the standout performers, earlier in the month, South African Rynfield resident Scarlet Le Roux says she is looking forward to what the future has in store for her. Le Roux a distance swimmer raked in four gold medals in the 800m, 400m, and 200, freestyle, propelling South Africa to the top of the standings with fifty-two medals – twenty-five golds, seventeen silver and ten bronzes. The continental competition was a great success for the seventeen-year-old, closing out a championship that was very rewarding with third overall in the women’s points table.
“What made this sweet was that I went into the competition not ranked in the 1 500m, 800m, 400m and 200m. It was amazing,” Le Roux said. Among the highlights of her season was her performance at the 20th Africa Aquatics Zone IV Swimming and Open Water Championships in Namibia in December, captaining Team SA to a championship-winning 84 medals. She raked in 11 golds and a silver, and broke the 50m, 100m, 200m backstroke and 100m freestyle records to finish as the ages 15 to 16 Victrix Ludorum. The swimmer, who trains at Ashton International College, followed that up with seventh overall in the 400m freestyle and 10th in the 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley in the open races at her third SA national swimming champs in Gqeberha in April.
Though she had set out to qualify for the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Champs in Romania in August, she was happy that she was in the top 10 in both events in the country.
Le Roux is one of those rare swimmers who has arrived at the position she has now through sheer determination. She has reached the position she is in due to determination and the training drills she practices. Le Roux could prove herself to be a formidable swimmer depending on how far she pushes herself. Her achievement of winning eighty-four medals was no easy feat and shows her to be a one of South Africa’s most resilient athletes. To be an athlete on par with Le Roux takes not just resilience and determination but also dedication. Swimming against other athletes on the same level as Le Roux is again not a walk in the park and required Le Roux to be on higher alert than her competitors. Swimming at top speed is not an easy task it requires the focus of the athlete in question.
Le Roux is a great athlete who sets her priorities high. She may be able to achieve greater accomplishments as she focuses on her swimming career. Achieving being in the top ten for South Africa is not an easy task. She will continue to rise up the ranks if she continues displaying the same determination she has. Le Roux must never falter.
JOHANNESBURG – The South African junior swimming team dominated the continent at the 16th African Junior Swimming Championship. Swimming South Africa sent 24 swimmers, and they brought home 52 medals: 25 Gold, 17 Silver and 10 Bronze. The swimmers arriving in the country on Monday morning competed in Cairo, Egypt, from 30 April to 4 May. The Africa Junior Swimming Championships are one of the premier competitions for young swimmers across the continent, providing a vital platform for emerging talents to gain international experience and showcase their skills. The host nation, Egypt, came second to Mzansi with 43 medals: 10 Gold,19 silver and 14 bronze. The two nations claimed the majority of gold medals, with Egypt excelling in backstroke and IM events, while South Africa dominated sprints and relays.
The 16th African Junior Swimming Championship has proven itself one of the most competitive swimming championships in the world. South Africa is fortunate to have talent like Le Roux leading the charge in swimming. Scarlet Le Roux and her team managed to scoop enough medals to rival the Egyptian team. The Egyptian team too, managed to win some gold although they fell short of the South Africans. To compete any swimming championships requires knowledge of speed, agility, determination and training. Competition can prove to be tight. Le Roux and the rest of the South African team have a rope ladder to climb when it comes to competing against the other swimming team.
Le Roux as an athlete has a promising future ahead of her as a swimming champion. The same will be said of the other rising athletes on the team.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
