More than 100 swimmers from Kathu, Kuruman, Prieska, Upington, Douglas, Jacobsdal, and Hartswater will descend on Kimberley to take part in this very special gala, where tribute will be paid to Kimberley swimming icon Karen Muir.
THE KIMBERLEY Flamingo Aquatics swimming club will be holding its swimming gala this weekend at the Karen Muir swimming pool.
And with the Northern Cape experiencing a heat wave this weekend, the cool water will be welcome for all the swimmers.
More than 100 swimmers from Kathu, Kuruman, Prieska, Upington, Douglas, Jacobsdal, and Hartswater will descend on Kimberley to take part in this very special gala.
Why ‘special’ you may ask? Well, during this gala a tribute will be held for Karen Muir who passed away in 2013 at the age of 60 from breast cancer.
At the age of 12 years old, Muir started making a name for herself in the swimming fraternity. She established 15 world records for backstroke over 100m and 200m and over the next four years she became the fastest female backstroke swimmer in the world.
Muir also won several national championships in the US and the UK in addition to 22 South African titles. One would think that she would have a very successful career well into her years, but Muir retired from swimming before she turned 18.
Born in Kimberley, her success was of such nature that one of the city’s swimming pools was named after her, the same pool where the weekend’s gala will be held.
Last year, one of Muir’s records was beaten after Flamingo Aquatics swimmer Caylin Gous surpassed Muir’s 1968 1,500m record and set a new record of 19:01:02.
According to the Chairman of the Flamingo Aquatics Academy, Nico Harbron, 50 percent of all the entrance fee money at the door will be donated to the Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa (CHOC). Adults will pay R40 and scholars R20 each.
Harbron mentioned that something special will happen on the Saturday of the gala in remembrance of Karen Muir, and hopefully, it will mean a lot to the swimmers who will be participating, but for now, what that ‘special something’ is, is still a secret.
All officials, parents, swimmers, spectators, and grandparents are encouraged to wear pink during the gala.
Harbron also noted that any person, from children to grown-ups who would need assistance in swimming, stroke correction, gala swimming, or triathlon training can contact Flamingo Aquatics via e-mail: [email protected] to get in touch with one of the Learn to Swim coaches.
The NC swimming fraternity is full of up-and-coming talent, and to be able to see that talent, you will need to be at the Karen Muir swimming pool on Saturday and Sunday. The Gala starts at 9am, so be there early, so as not to miss a stroke.
