Young swimmer makes it to six finals, clinches bronze, at South African Junior Nationals
Gemma Walters has made a splash at her first major national swimming event, the South African National Junior Championships held in Cape Town recently.
The 15-year-old, from Brescia House School, qualified for six finals across eight events, achieving personal bests in every race and earning her first junior national medal: a bronze in the 200m backstroke.
Gemma's journey into competitive swimming began at age 12, after winning multiple 50m races at her primary school's challenge gala.
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Inspired by her father and driven by her passion, she quickly progressed through club training, setting her sights on bigger stages. 'It's incredible to know that all my hard work with training over the past few months has paid off. I never expected to make this many finals, especially with a personal best, by as much as six seconds, in my 400m individual medley. I'm incredibly happy with how this gala went, exceeding my own expectations of how I could perform under pressure.'
Her journey was not without hurdles. She faced a rotator cuff injury two months before the event. 'It was very stressful, but I started sessions with a biokineticist to strengthen my shoulder, which helped me recover and get back into training.'
She added that her discipline and perseverance paid off, allowing her to resume her six-times-a-week training routine, to peak at the right moment.
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The highlight of Gemma's competition was the 200m backstroke final, where she not only secured third place but also dropped five seconds off her entry time. 'Catching up and overtaking the swimmer in third place was an incredible feeling. Talking to other swimmers beforehand, sharing our frustrations and encouragement, really boosted my confidence.'
Qualifying for the finals at junior nationals was a dream come true, especially at her age. 'Knowing I'll be competing at that level against the best swimmers in South Africa is surreal. I'd love to make a B final next time and keep improving.'
Looking ahead, Gemma plans to focus on next, upcoming junior nationals, aiming to add more medals and improve her times. Long-term, she hopes to qualify for the World Championships or World Junior Championships and represent South Africa on the international stage.
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Gemma offers encouraging advice to young swimmers. 'Don't put too much pressure on yourself at every gala. It's normal to have setbacks, but those moments motivate you to work harder. Trust in your training and enjoy the journey.'
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