A 13-year-old girl from George in the Southern Cape has been chosen to represent South Africa in the 9th Down Syndrome World Swimming Championship in Canada next month.
Minke Janse van Rensburg is one of nine swimmers selected by the South African Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired.
She won four gold and two silver medals at the recent national championships.
Her swimming coach, Sybeth Hughes, says they did not expect her to achieve so much so soon.
“It was her first season as a junior swimmer and pleasantly surprised us at the Down Syndrome championships in march this year. So much that she walked away with four gold medals. It was not according to the plan; we were hoping to do that next year. So, yes now the hard work starts for both Minke and myself,” says Hughes.
Minke’s father, Hennie Janse van Rensburg, says his daughter’s participation in sport has greatly improved her quality of life and hopes she can inspire other children with Down Syndrome.
“To her, it’s just fun. She never thinks she is going to exercise. She just thinks she’s going to swim that is something I really want to give credit to her coach. Minke should never be pushed in a way, it becomes unpleasant for her,” says her father.
