AQUATICS ON THE CAPE FLATS

BY ROBIN ADAMS

SWIMMING HAS LONG BEEN POPULAR at the University of the Western Cape, but now rowing, water polo and even lifesaving are making a splash (pun intended). They may be fledgling sports on campus but some of those involved have lofty ambitions of one day producing Africa’s best aquatics stars.

ONE OF THE DRIVING FORCES behind aquatic sports development at UWC is senior sports administrator, Derick Orderson. He is probably one of the most recognisable faces on campus, having worked here since 1986, a year infamously memorable for Diego Maradona having a hand in helping Argentina clinch the FIFA World Cup. It was also the year Orderson, without any special training and only access to a public municipal pool, recorded a time of 25.81 seconds in the 50m freestyle (Tom Jager’s world record at the time was 22.40).

UWC has the only heated and covered Olympic-size POOL in South Africa.

DERICK ORDERSON

Even after 36 years, Orderson still has a fire in his belly to show the world UWC offers more than just quality academics. Sport also has its place in the sun and he’s all about promoting more opportunities at the university.

“A more sustainable aquatics programme” is part of that dream, he says. “We want top swimming people to venture here and those who aspire to continue with their swimming to come and study here.”

A key part of the plan already exists. “We have the only heated and covered 50m swimming pool in South Africa,” says Orderson. The Olympic-size pool is part of a bid to “make swimming as viable and as accessible as possible for any person who would like to learn to swim. We give free lessons,” he says. Orderson is certainly qualified to teach. He’s a former South African swimming and lifesaving champion who won many medals in his competitive career. He is also ably supported by a dedicated team of coaches.

ZOE-LLYN DE LA CRUZ, the coach of the women’s swimming team, boasts impeccable credentials, including being selected as the Western Cape Aquatics female coach at the interprovincial gala in Knysna in April 2021.

De la Cruz has been with the campus aquatics side since June last year and says she is most proud of running the ‘learn to swim’ programme.

“I love working in this position as it is my passion to teach, and especially teaching young children and adolescents,” she says. “I plan to teach young swimmers stroke correction and to encourage them to join the competitive team and swim galas. I’m at the foundation phase where we build swimmers up to be competitive swimmers. Swimming is important at UWC as we have many good swimmers who have the potential to one day represent the university at higher levels of competition. Who knows, UWC might have the next Chad le Clos.”

ROWER COLE JENSEN says, last year, hardly anyone knew the sport was on offer on campus or that the university had a rowing team.

“This year alone I’ve got six women and three men onto the team, which is fantastic, seeing as how last year our numbers dwindled to less than eight in total. And we’re pushing almost 20 now. I would love for UWC to be seen as a top competitor in the sport,” he says.

Of course, Jensen has no illusions about the enormity of the job at hand. “It will involve hard work and determination on the committee’s side. We’re looking to get a few more boats into UWC and create all the infrastructure, and getting UWC aquatics its own ergonomic room so we don’t have to rely on the High- Performance Centre.”

LIFESAVING IS ANOTHER NEW ADDITION to the aquatics programme and Orderson says the classes are open to all body sizes. Plans are also in place to introduce diving on campus soon.

MANY OF THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS AQUATIC STARS started their professional journeys at university or college. It’s early days yet, but Orderson and his team see no reason why the same should not be true of UWC in the coming years. B+G