Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
‘Mighty Mouse’ is blossoming
AGE is but a number for 15-year-old Trinity Herne. The swimmer, from Panorama, is on top of her game and is already competing at international level against swimmers beyond her age-group level.
Trinity, from Tygerberg Aquatics, is getting better in every competition.
Last week she took the bronze medal in the 200m butterfly, clocking 2:19.92 at the SA Senior Championships in Durban. Trinity also made the finals of the 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley (IM).
The IM comprises the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle strokes.
She also bagged two silver medals
after helping the Western Cape to second place in the 4x200m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay.
Trinity came into the competition high on confidence after bagging seven individual medals at the SA Junior Championships in Durban last month.
She claimed gold in the under-15 100m butterfly, second in the U15 50m and 200m butterfly events, second in the U15 100m freestyle and second in the U15-18 category in the 200m freestyle. She also finished second in the U15 200m IM and third in the U15 400m freestyle.
“I am really happy with my performances, but it could have gone a bit better. I could have done more mental training during pre-season, so that I could have pushed more towards the end of the race as I started to feel tired,” she said.
Last year, Trinity represented South Africa on numerous occasions and brought home a number of medals.
She claimed three medals at the African Union Sport Council Region 5 U20 Games in Gaborone, Botswana.
She took the silver medal in the 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly and the 200m
IM.
Trinity also placed 21 at the International Swimming Federation World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Eilat, Israel.
“The experience in Botswana was really nice. I learnt to adapt myself mentally and to always focus on my events. It was a great opportunity to race against swimmers older than myself.”
All the hard work paid off in the end,” said Trinity who does online schooling with the Cambridge Curriculum.
“It so much easier for me to balance school and sports with online schooling,” said the former Edgemead High School pupil.
Her coach, Bianca Marias, said Trinity was fondly known as “Mighty Mouse” because she seemed to develop “superhero powers” when she raced.
“She is a fierce competitor and often dominates her opposition.
“She has a lovely spirit, which permeates through the squad and brings out the best in others.
“Trinity goes over and beyond the required 110% effort and her hard work is certainly paying off.
“Her first step up to represent South Africa was at the Junior African Championships, held in Egypt in 2017.
“There she won the gold medal for the 100 butterfly in the junior category. Since then, Trinity has simply blossomed.”