{"id":297476,"date":"2026-02-24T17:25:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T15:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnuus\/?p=297476"},"modified":"2026-02-24T17:43:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T15:43:06","slug":"elih-takes-part-international-swimming-in-honour-of-little-noah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/elih-takes-part-international-swimming-in-honour-of-little-noah\/","title":{"rendered":"4Noah: When paralimpic dreams become a memorial of love"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BLOEMFONTEIN – <\/strong>In the heart of Bloemfontein, where tragedy and triumph dance hand in hand, an extraordinary tale of dedication unfolded. One that transformed personal victory into eternal remembrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twenty-three-year-old Elih Lawrence and little Noah Hewetson, aged merely two years and seven months, shared more than geography. They shared a profound connection forged by water’s unforgiving nature. Both had faced the terrifying embrace of drowning, Noah, tragically, on Christmas Eve when he fell into a swimming pool, and Elih, who nearly perished in similar circumstances at just 20 months old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Elih survived to chase his Paralympic dreams, Noah’s courageous battle ended after 40 heartbreaking days in Bloemfontein Mediclinic’s intensive care unit earlier this year.
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Bloemfontein swimmer Elih Lawrence (left) competed at an international event in Australia and dedicated it to little Noah Hewetson (photo, right) that passed away in January after a swimming accident. PHOTOS: Supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before departing for the Australian Para Swimming World Series on the Gold Coast, Elih approached Noah’s bereaved parents with a request that embodied pure compassion. With tender respect, he asked permission to dedicate his performance to their precious son, transforming competitive swimming into a living memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 20 to 22 February at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in Southport, Elih, accompanied by his steadfast coach Clinton Thomas, carried Noah’s memory into every race. His dedication was beautifully visible: “4Noah” inscribed upon his arm, and later, on Southport’s golden sands, he lovingly wrote both “Elih” and “Noah” alongside teammate JP, who added his own name to this touching tribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing in the 100-metre freestyle, 400-metre freestyle, 100-metre backstroke, and 100-metre breaststroke, Elih claimed victory in his heat for the freestyle and secured fifth position in the backstroke, each achievement dedicated to a little boy whose life was far too brief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though still completing his international classification process, preventing official medal recognition, Elih’s true victory transcended podium placement. His mother, Michele Lawrence, beamed with pride: “We are extraordinarily proud of his results. He improved his personal best times by three seconds in both the 100-metre freestyle and backstroke.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elih successfully attained his SB14 International Classification. This is a Paralympic swimming category for athletes with intellectual impairment, characterised by limitations in adaptive behaviour presenting before age 18. This recognised Paralympic class (S14\/SB14 and SM14) represents a monumental step towards his ultimate goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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