My mum has always said that I had no choice but to learn to swim and compete. Swimming is something handed down to me by my dad and to him from my grandad, whose whole family swim and compete.
My dad competed in swimming from a young age (in England and New Zealand) and so did grandad and they both went on to coach, teach and even run a swimming school when I was a baby.
I can’t remember the first time I went swimming, but my mum showed me pictures and it was when I was 5 weeks old. I have loved swimming ever since. Whether it is in the ocean or in a swimming pool, I love swimming and being under the water.
My little brother Jett and I do three swimming lessons a week. We swim in Whitianga twice a week and one swimming lesson every Saturday with our dad in my grandparents’ pool.
I have competed in open water swimming, following after grandad too who also competes in open water swimming. One swim in Rotorua in the freezing cold Blue Lake in winter. Brrrrr! And one in Mt Maunganui. During my Mt Maunganui competition, I dived in to begin my swim and nearly bumped into a stingray. It made me swim faster than I normally do.
During the summer, my whole family loves to swim. Along with all our friends in Matarangi, we meet at the harbour or ocean. All the mums have a group chat on facebook called ‘bombs off the wharf’ so we can all go and swim together. It’s more fun and safer for us all swimming together.
This summer, when I went swimming at Matarangi Beach, I even saw some bronzies – but I wasn’t allowed to keep swimming with them, I had to get out. When I used to go out on grandad’s boat, I always loved jumping off the side. Me and dad would. Mum was too chicken.
Recently I competed in my school swimming sports. I think I did well. I then was chosen to go to a Cluster event which is held for all the local country schools in our part of Coromandel. I’m very lucky that my Dad was able to take time off work and come watch me and also be a timekeeper. He is my biggest fan when I swim.
Besides swimming, I keep busy in the colder months with netball and other sports for my school, Te Rerenga Primary. Mum and dad are big cheerleaders for my siblings and me in every sport and activity we do.
This year, I hope I can do more open water swimming and one day be as fast as grandad and then work to be faster than dad.
I have lived in Matarangi nearly five years and I am so happy we moved here. I am surrounded by the ocean and I have so many friends that love it as much as I do.
Beach-Swimming-Summer-Family-Friends … my favourite things.
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