Down Syndrome swimmers need funding for World Champs
SEVEN KZN Down Syndrome swimmers have qualified and been selected to compete at the 9th DSISO World Swimming Championships in Truro, Canada from July 19-27.
The team was selected during the SASA-II National Age Group Games in Pretoria in March and consists of four female and five male swimmers.
Swimmers selected had to achieve World Qualifying times and be possible finalist and/or medal contenders.
However, funding or sponsorships are required as SASA-II’S application for national funding from LOTTO has been unsuccessful, and the tour is now a self-funded event.
Sascoc have approved the team’s participation and the awarding of national colours.
The South African Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired (SASAII) is a member of Sascoc, an associate member of SSA and is also affiliated to the Down Syndrome International Swimming Organization (DSISO).
These athletes represent the elite swimmers with Down Syndrome in our country and they are all inside the top three in the rankings on the SASA-II ranking list. All the swimmers are registered with SSA, and listed on the DSISO World MASTER LIST (International classification.)
They are medal prospects as part of the national relay. teams as well as in some of the individual events.
The total cost for each team member is R 42 750.
Below is a short breakdown of each swimmer’s achievements:
JENNIFER HIGGINS (KZN)
Jenna has been swimming since the age of 13 and is our most qualified and decorated swimmer with Down Syndrome in the country. Up until 2016 Jenna held every African record in both Long and Short Course pools. In 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2012 she earned the award as the Top Female Swimmer at the DSISO World Swimming Championships. She has also twice won the KZN Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability award. In 2006, Jenna was awarded as Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability at the South African Sports Awards.
Jenna’s medal count is far too many to account for here. Full details are available on request.
February 2018
SASA-II Age Group Summer Games (Short Course)
15 races swam – won 15 individual medals (8 Gold, 5 Silver and 2 Bronze medals)
RENTIA OOSTHUIZEN
Rentia is a very talented young woman, being not only one of our top female swimmers but she is also our No 1 in athletics. She has represented South Africa on many occasions both in the swimming pool and on the athletics track. Rentia is also the first female with Down Syndrome to complete a 10km road race and thereby holds the world record. Her medal count for swimming is as follows:
Feb 2012
SASA-II Age Group Summer Games
6 races swam – won 6 individual medals (1 Gold, 5 Silver)
Feb 2013
SASA-II Elite Summer Games (Long Course)
6 races swam – won 4 individual medals (1 Gold, 2 silver, 1 Bronze)
March 2014
SASA-II Age Group Summer Games (Short Course) Durban
13 races swam – won 11 individual medals (1 Silver, 10 Bronze)
Nov 2014
Down Syndrome World Championships (Short Course) Mexico
Member of the relay team that won a bronze medal and set a new African record
Feb 2015
SASA-II Elite Summer Games (Long Course) Kimberley
8 races swam – won 4 individual medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Feb 2016
SASA-II Age Group Summer Games (Short Course) Port Elizabeth
13 races swam – won 10 individual medals (2 Gold, 3 Silver, 5 Bronze)
July 2016
Trisome Gamesathletics Rentia won a Gold medal as a member of the 4x400m relay
Silver medals won for triathlon and long jump. Bronze medal for 800m walk
Feb 2018
SASA-II Age Group Summer Games (Short Course) Pretoria
13 races swam – won 13 individual medals (5 Silver, 8 Bronze)
MINKE JANSE VAN RENSBURG (KZN)
Minke is our youngest member of the squad at just 13 years old and has only just started competing at national level but has already managed to make a big impression. Minke is also a very talented biathlon athlete and enjoys her swimming immensely. She competed at her first SASA-II Nationals this year and won the following medals:
Feb 2018
SASA-II Age Group Summer Games (Short Course) Pretoria
13 races swam – won 13 individual medals (5 Silver, 8 Bronze)
8 races swan – won 7 medals (3 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze)
KARL HEBBELMANN (KZN)
Karl has represented South Africa on many occasions, and below is a short account of his accomplishments:
Down Syndrome World Championships 2004 Durban
Won 1 Gold (also set a world record for 25m breaststroke), 3 Silver, 6 Bronze
Down Syndrome World Championships 2006 Limerick, Ireland
Won 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal
Down Syndrome World Championships 2007 Taipei, Taiwan
Won 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals
Down Syndrome World Championships 2008 Albufeira, Portugal
Won 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal
Special Olympics 2015 Los Angeles USA
Won 1 Bronze medal for 400m freestyle
JAN-HERMANN ELS: (KZN)
Jan-hermann is our top male swimmer and has represented South Africa on several occasions. He also holds all the African Junior records and a large number of World Junior records.
He was a member of the relay team in Florence, Italy that won a Silver medal and set a new African relay record.
He was also awarded the top overall male swimmer with Down Syndrome at the SASA-II Age Group Games 2018.
His medal accomplishments are too many to account for here and full details are available on request.
February 2018
SASA-II Age Group Summer Games (Short Course)
15 races swam – won 15 individual medals (11 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals)
HANNES-WALT DE KLERK:
Hannes-walt is one of our top Mosaic Down Syndrome swimmers. He has represented South Africa at international level six times. He has also been selected to represent South Africa at the Down Syndrome World Athletics Champs to be held in Madeira, Portugal in October this year.
Below is a short account of his international medals won:
Down Syndrome World Championships 2006 Limerick, Ireland
Won 2 Gold (including setting a new world record for 25m breaststroke), 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal
Down Syndrome World Championships 2007 Taipei, Taiwan
Won 3 Gold (2 world records), 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medal
Down Syndrome World Championships 2008 Albufeira, Portugal
Won 1 Gold (world record – 100 IM), 4 Silver and 1 Bronze
Down Syndrome World Championships 2010 Taipei, Taiwan
Won 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 4 Bronze medals
Down Syndrome World Championships 2012 Luano, Italy
Won 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals
Trisome Games 2016 Florence, Italy (Athletics)
Won 1 Gold, 4 Silver and 1 Bronze medal
HYLTON HEGGIE (KZN)
Hylton is one of our more accomplished male swimmers. He has represented South Africa at seven of the previous eight DSISO World Champs. He holds several African records in both the Long Course and Short Course pools. All records can be verified on www.dsiso.org. His medal count is far too long to account for here but a full record is available on request.
February 2018
SASA-II Age Group Summer Games (Short Course)
15 races swam – won 15 individual medals (10 Gold, 5 Silver)
SEAN O’NEILL (KZN)
Sean is one of our older male swimmers. He has represented SA at seven of the previous eight DSISO World Champs. He holds several African records - Long and Short Course. Until recently he still held the world record for 25m freestyle. All records can be verified on www.dsiso. org. His medal count is far too long to account for here but a full record is available on request.
February 2018
SASA-II Age Group Summer Games (Short Course)
15 races swam – won 15 individual medals (10 Gold, 5 Silver)
MELISA O’NEILL (KZN)
Melisa is our top female swimmer with Down Syndrome. She has only been swimming for four years but has accomplished so much in that time. She has represented South Africa twice.
Below is short account of some of her medals, and a full record is available on request:
July 2016
Trisome Games (Long Course) Florence, Italy
8 races swam – won 2 individual medals (1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Nov 2017
INAS World Swimming Championships (Long Course) Mexico
8 races swam – won 6 individual medals (3 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze)
February 2018
SASA-II Age Group Summer Games (Short Course)
15 races swam – won 15 individual medals (10 Gold, 5 Silver)
Melisa currently holds 10 African records
(records can be confirmed on www.dsiso.org) – Own Correspondent.