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Kariega teen Gemma Spies, a rising star in South Africa’s swimming community, is making headlines for her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport. At just 12 years old, Spies has already earned recognition as a top achieving swimmer in the country, with her sights set on competing in the Olympics one day.
Spies’ passion for swimming has been a driving force since childhood. “I have always had a love for swimming, and want to go to the Olympics one day,” she revealed, highlighting her ambitious aspirations.
Despite the rigorous training demands, Spies maintains a balanced routine, dedicating herself to both swimming and academics. She trains daily at the Infinity Swimming Academy in Gqeberha, covering approximately 3.5km each session. Balancing her studies, Spies diligently completes her homework and studies after training, utilising weekends to catch up on any missed school work.
For Jones, the joy of competitive swimming lies in the camaraderie and the satisfaction of seeing her hard work pay off. “Meeting swimmers from around the country and seeing all my hard work paying off,” she noted as her favourite aspect of the sport.
Like many athletes, Spies has faced challenges along her journey, particularly when illness disrupts her training schedule. However, her determination and resilience have allowed her to overcome these setbacks.
To her fellow aspiring young athletes, Spies offers simple yet powerful advice: “Follow your dreams and don’t let anything come between you and your dreams; hard work pays off in the end.”
Maintaining focus during competitions is crucial, and Spies relies on visualisation techniques to stay composed before races, ensuring she executes her plans effectively in the pool.
Inspired by notable South African swimmers such as Tayla Jonker, Erin Gallagher, Pieter Coetzee, and Chad Le Clos, Spies looks up to these athletes as role models in her journey.
With her eyes set on future goals, she aims to compete in the Junior World Championships and continually improve her swimming times in the short term.
Despite her demanding schedule as a top achieving swimmer, the teen’s personal life remains unaffected, with her friends and family providing unwavering support. She still enjoys participating in extracurricular activities like hockey, emphasising that her swimming pursuits have not hindered her social life.
For Spies’ parents, their daughter’s remarkable talent is a source of immense pride and gratitude. Her mother, Sharoy Spies, said, “We are extremely proud of Gemma and support her in everything; we are here for her through ups and downs and we thank God for her talent. In conclusion We are also so grateful to the amazing coaches she has at Infinity Swimming Academy (David Glover, Samantha Barton, Deshaan Pillay and Bryce Grassi) who put so much time and effort into making this a reality for Gemma.”
