Zululand Observer - Weekender

Ethan is on a national swimming gala mission

- Richard Springorum

GRANTLEIGH Schools’ Ethan Bender dreams of competing in the Olympic Games one day, and he might just be on course to achieve it.

The matric learner shattered four records on his way to the senior victor ludorum at his school’s inter-house gala last Friday, and was invited to compete against the country’s best at the Invitation­al Grand Prix Championsh­ip gala to be held in Durban this weekend.

Ethan trains under coach Wendy Cook at Froggies Aquatics and qualified for SA Nationals at the King Cetshwayo District Aquatics Age Group gala at Arboretum Pool, where he clocked 24.86 in the boys’ 50m freestyle event.

As a result, he was invited by Swim South Africa to compete in the invitation­al gala.

Ethan was selected as a prefect for 2021, and is part of the school’s community profile team which assists with fundraisin­g events and community work.

Before lockdown struck, Ethan also competed in athletics and sevens rugby.

The talented all-rounder will knuckle down this year on his academics, as he aims to study law next year at Stellenbos­ch or Potchefstr­oom University.

 ??  ?? Froggies Aquatics swimmer, Ethan Bender in action at a recent local gala
Froggies Aquatics swimmer, Ethan Bender in action at a recent local gala

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