Caitlyn Walsh
Women have come a long way in sport. In terms of equality and gaining recognition, they have been successful. Considering recent sporting events, it can be said that TuksSwimming women are also dominating the swimming pool and gaining recognition for their achievements.
In the recent Commonwealth Games that were held in the Gold Coast, TuksSwimmer, Tatjana Schoenmaker, achieved great victory. Schoenmaker won two gold medals in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke events within an African record time of 2.22.02. According to Sport24, Schoenmaker did not expect to “clock such a good time”. She won South Africa’s fourth gold medal. Schoenmaker’s coach is club manager of the TuksSwimming team, Rocco Meiring.
Another accomplished TuksSwimmer is Christin Mundell. Mundell took part in the South African Senior Swimming Championships which was held in Port Elizabeth. The championships were held at the end of April. 16-year-old Mundell came second in the 100m and 200m breaststroke winning her two silver medals. She also placed third in the 50m breaststroke earning her a bronze medal, and she placed first in the 200m individual medley. Due to her her success, Mundell qualified for three events in the Youth Olympic games. Mundell also accomplished victory at the South African Age Group Championships by winning six gold medals in the 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, 200m freestyle and the 400m freestyle. She has now qualified in all 6 events for the upcoming Youth Games. Mundell started swimming competitively at the early age of ten. When she turned twelve, she moved to the TuksSwimming team where she has been trained by the coach, Rocco Meiring.
Meiring also coached Kelly Gunnell. According to IOL Sport, Gunnell believes that Rocco “is so passionate about his swimmers. He does not coach for the money or fame. Everything he does, he does for the love of swimming.” Gunnell is a former Youth Commonwealth Games champion as she placed first in the 200m breaststroke winning her a gold medal, second in the 100m breaststroke winning her a silver medal, and third in the 50m breaststroke wining her a bronze medal. Gunnel took part in the Youth Commonwealth Games in 2011.
Meiring has helped female swimmers gain the success and recognition they deserve, Gunnell, Mundell and Schoenmaker included. IOL Sport mentioned that Meiring’s aim was to help women gain success in swimming. “Meiring said that a decision was made at TuksSwimming a few years ago to help lift the standard of South African women’s swimming.” From the recent success stories of Tuks women winning competitively in South Africa, the decision to increase the standard of women’s swimming seems to be true.
Photos: Tuks Sport twitter page
