New hero out to honour dad’s memory
CHRISTOPHER Reid, South Africa’s newest pool hero, is aiming to shine at the Rio Olympics in August to honour his dead father.
Darryl Reid had wanted to see his son compete at the 2016 Games, but he succumbed to cancer in early 2014, just three days after the January 10 birthday he and Christopher shared.
“It’s been a big driving factor for me,” said Reid, whose torpedo-like display in the 100m backstroke was one of the standout performances of the SA championships in Durban this week.
His 53.12sec national record has also given SA hopes of Olympic medals in the 4x100m medley relay.
“It was his dying wish, he told the doctors, to get me to Rio because I want to see my son perform’. It’s been in the back of my mind, spiritually he’ll get to see it.”
Five days after his father died, Reid went to Australia to represent SA at an international gala, but not taking time out caught up with him.
“In mid-July [of 2014] I broke down just because I was pushing so hard and I never really had time to mourn. But I got out of it. I found the right people to help me.”
Reid’s time this week is good enough for an Olympic final, but it also means a medley relay medal is looming on the horizon for a team that stars Cameron van der Burgh and Chad Le Clos, the kings of breaststroke and butterfly.
“I think we’re going to drop a bomb [in Rio], especially that relay,” said Reid, 20.
“I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics, but never to be just an Olympian.
“I want to be a serious contender, I want to go to the Olympics and do something great … I want a medal. That’s what I’ve been training for.”
He needs to improve his time even further in the next few months, to at least 52.5, if not 51.8, and he believes it’s possible.
“All the races I’ve done I’ve made technical errors that can be fixed in four months. I’m going to work on my strength now [too] so hopefully I’m going to have phenomenal strength gains.”
Reid, a quantitative finance student at the University of Alabama, started swimming at Grey junior school in Port Elizabeth, at the suggestion of his grade two teacher, Lee van Zyl.
“She one day phoned my parents and said, ‘hey, he should come and have some lessons with me, he looks pretty good in the water’.
“She started coaching me and she said I’ve got a lot of talent so I should see a professional coach.”
Reid is a fan of the sea and enjoys body surfing, wave-skiing and spear-fishing.
“People always made fun of me for saying I like the feel of the water on my skin.”
He is a guinea pig for his mother, Ronel, who makes swimming costumes and leotards.
“She would [make] me these colourful, vibrant costumes. That’s totally not me, I’m kind of this dull, black and grey kind of person and she made me wear pink suits,” he said with a laugh.
Gold, silver or bronze will be a good match too.