Jbjsaturday

HOURS spent in icy water, keeping a close lookout for sharks, is not everyone’s idea of fun.

Sasha-Lee Nordengen, a Grade 11 pupil from Durban, was the youngest participant in the Freedom Day swim from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand.

The Durban Girls’ College scholar said the swim was a real challenge.

“I knew that the Atlantic Ocean water was going to be very cold, but nothing can prepare you for these conditions. It’s tough, very tough.”

Her wide smile tells you she has no regrets. She did the swim to raise awareness for a group of orphans in Durban. “It was a fantastic experience and to be able to give a voice to children who are in need of care and support was worth every minute of the swim – even the freezing water.”

She is committed to supporting the work of Lungisisa Indlela Village ( LIV), a home for 600 orphaned or vulnerable children, near King Shaka Airport.

The event is organised by the Cape Town Long Distance Swimming Association. It takes place every year, weather permitting. It attracts extreme sports athletes from all parts of the country as well as the rest of the world.

“For some time it has been a goal of mine to attempt the swim from Robben Island to the mainland. I think it’s the association of the island with what Nelson Mandela stood for and my love of longdistance swimming that made it such a big thing in my life.”

Keeping up her fitness levels, not only for events like these, but in preparation for her participation in the forthcoming Junior World Open Water Championships in Israel in August, requires hours of daily training – and swimming at least 80km a week.

In September she will represent South Africa at the Life Saving World Championships in France.

“My parents are keen on sport and support me in my training and also my commitment to charity work,” she says. “For the Robben Island swim my mom was in a boat next to me – so that made a huge difference.”

Her mom, Sonia, admits she was “pretty anxious” about her daughter’s swim in water below 12ºC. “Sasha-Lee was determined to take part. Raising awareness about vulnerable children is very important to her, so being there to support her was a real privilege.”

Sasha- Lee was not only the youngest participant but the winner in the women’s event with a time of one hour and 45 minutes. She returned home with a trophy to remind her of her achievements.

Sasha-Lee points at her scarlet cap with its ring of brightly coloured buttons.

“But this is more important,” she says. “If we can use our skills to help children have a better life then that is something we should all try to do. I have visited the village, met the children and learnt about some of the traumas they have faced. It is a place where you can’t help but feel inspired and full of hope for the future of our country.”