Kids enjoy splashing great time with hero
Kevin Paul returns with more medals and ambition to help
PARALYMPIAN swimmer Kevin Paul will be hoping his recent success in Brazil will stand him in good stead for the Rio Olympics next year. The former Grey High pupil, who now lives and trains in Durban, broke his 200m breaststroke personal best time in Sao Paulo at the weekend clocking two minutes and 22.27 seconds.
He was with the national side and returned with two gold medals to add to the three he won in the event last year.
The multi-gold medallist said he was focusing all his energy on next year’s Paralympics.
“The Games come around once every four years, so everything goes into that. We are 499 days away from that. You count down every single day until you jump into the water,” Paul said yesterday.
“The training is going well. There will be more sacrifices, more travelling and more time away from family. This is all for a goal and everything that we work towards will pay off.
“We are excited and looking forward to it.”
The 23year-old said his move to Durban had paid off handsomely. “I am now improving my times regularly. It means that it’s starting to pay off and it was the right decision to move there.”
Paul swims for Durban’s Seagulls Club, under the guid- ance of Graham Hill, a national able-bodied coach.
“There are a few Olympians and medallists who are working under Graham. We enjoy training together and working off each other,” Paul said.
He is also involved in a Bay charity outreach programme, through which trains phans special needs swim.
“My mom [Katharina] and I have been working with the Khaya Cheshire Home for two years now. It’s a special group of kids.
“Being disabled is one thing in SA but being disabled and being from an underprivileged background makes it so much he orwith
to tougher.
“Just to be able to work with the children on a weekly basis, to have them have fun in the swimming pool and just feel like they are free, has been amazing.
“We have seen how their confidence has grown in the last two years. They have improved from not being able to swim and now being able to get into the water and swim without the help of someone else.
“It has given them confidence in the water but, more importantly, it has given them confidence outside in the world. Knowing that if they can work on something they can achieve it,” he said.
Paul also applauded the support of the Profiles Health Club owned by Helen Mentzel.
The final-year NMMU law students plans to finish his degree before heading for possible glory in Rio.
‘
Being disabled and being from an underprivileged
background makes it so much
tougher