Sisters make splash in swimming games
SISTERS Calene and Caomhe Lalla are doing it for themselves in the swimming pool
The Isipingo Beach siblings recently acquitted themselves admirably during the Salga-KZN Games held in Richards Bay.
The KZN Sports and Recreation Department hosted the annual games for the 15th time this year in association with the South African Local Government Association (Salga).
The idea behind hosting this event is to get the youth actively involved in sport. Having started out with just two sporting codes, this year the games catered for 17 with more than 6 000 participants from 11 districts.
Calene, 13, who will be in Grade 8 next year was the captain of the girls swim team.
Having started swimming at the age of 3, she began competitive swimming three years ago.
“I just love being in the water and I joined Beavers Swimming Club to try out competitive swimming.
“I took part in the Salga Games last year as well and the coach recognised my ability and appointed me the captain of the team this year.”
Calene said that getting into the squad was not smooth sailing.
“There are a number of swim trials that we have to take part in where they whittle the number down. Then we were called in for a final selection after which the team was announced.”
She won a bronze medal in the freestyle relay and a silver in the medley relay.
Her sister Caomhe, 12, a Grade 7 pupil, also started competitive swimming three years ago.
She bagged the most number of medals for an individual athlete at the games, winning four bronze, one silver and two gold for the 200m medley and the 200m freestyle.
“When I started swimming I did it just to keet fit and well-rounded. However, now that I’m winning medals it has inspired me to do better,” said Caomhe.
“Although I have other interests, like excelling in drama, I now have a renewed ambition to do the best I can do in the pool.”
The KZN Department of Sport and Recreation is the main financial and technical supporter of the games, with an investment of R6.7 million for this year alone.
The programme was initiated to address the concern around the youth not engaging in physical activity.
The games are credited for exposing talent from the outlying areas of all district municipalities in the province.
Many prominent current and former athletes particularly in football and boxing are the products of the tournament.
All 11 districts representing the entire province participated in the games, including the eThekwini Metro.
The Metro again emerged clear overall winners with 35 points after they collected eight gold medals, three silver and five bronze.