- Jake Hutton, a lifesaving athlete from Big Bay, won three world titles at the 2024 Lifesaving World Championships in Australia.
- Hutton excelled in both pool and surf events, competing against athletes from over 50 countries.
- His victories contributed to South Africa’s strong team performance at the prestigious event.
A team of 24 South African lifesaving athletes recently competed at the 2024 Lifesaving World Championships (LWC) held on the Gold Coast in Australia – one athlete from the Big Bay Surf Lifesaving Club, Jake Hutton, reeled in the medals as a three-time World champion.
The championships, which ran from 20 August to 2 September, saw South Africa compete against the best in the world in both pool and surf events. The biannual LWC is a prestigious event that attracts over 5 000 athletes from more than 50 countries.
Hutton won in four categories: World International Youth Flags Champion, World Inter-Club Youth Flags Champion, World Inter-Club Youth Sprints Champion and second in the World International Youth Sprints.
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His journey with lifesaving started at the age of nine years when he joined Big Bay Surf Lifesaving Club.
He has spent many hours on voluntary duty contributing to the safety of the public on the beach, as well as many hours training both on the beach and in the water.
Hutton represented WP in biathlons and swimming numerous times. However, his passion is lifesaving and this is where he has turned his full focus to.
This year after having been selected to represent Lifesaving Western Province at Inter Provincials, he was selected as one of only six junior boys, nationally to represent South Africa, his goal becoming a reality.
Jakes future goals are to continue to achieve at this level, and dreamed to attend the Lifesaving World Championships.
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The club held various fundraising events for Hutton, as the tour abroad was 100% self-funded.
the club says.
Team performance highlights
In the youth division, the team showed notable progress, moving up from 7th place in 2022 to 5th overall. This improvement was driven by a host of impressive individual and team performances, with four separate World Titles being claimed by Jake Hutton in Flags, Eve Abrahams in Flags, Matt Brading in Surf ski and the Youth Girls Beach Relay team consisting of Rebecca Fury, Dayna Deeble, Eve Abrahams and Keria van Heerden.
Alongside other podiums a silver in Surf Swim by Tyne van Achtenberg, a silver in Sprints by Jake Hutton, and a bronze in the Girls Tube Rescue with Rebecca Fury, Nicola Harcus, Holly Smith and Dayna Deeble and the Taplin with Holly Smith, Nicola Harcus, Dayna Deeble and Eve Abrahams. In the pool, Holly Smith and Eve Abrahams secured a bronze in the line throw, and several athletes achieved personal bests. The junior team’s relays consistently reached the finals, with 7 A-Finals and 17 B-Finals.
The open division saw the team maintain its 9th place overall. Despite facing stiff competition, including athletes from the recent Paris Olympics, the open team made significant strides.
Champs
The athletes did extremely well in the gruelling “M” format Ocean Man, Ocean Woman and team event which will possibly be included in the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. Antonie Pieterse shone brightly, breaking three South African pool records and achieving five personal bests. Matthew Coetzer was crowned World Champion for the Open Men’s Surf ski and Samuel Booysen got a bronze in beach sprints, having only just moved up from Juniors. Additionally, in the pool and surf the team secured a broad range of A and B-Finals with many great results and learnings along the way.
James Thomson, Surf Coach, noted the positive impact of this championship, saying, “Overall, this was a positive world champs for the national team. The team was selected with a vision for the future. The experience gained by the youngest team ever taken to the Opens will stand us in good stead for the next 2-6 years.”
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Chantel Smith, Pool Coach, praised the athletes’ performances against fierce competition.
“Our athletes showed incredible determination and resilience, competing against some of the best in the world. Despite the pressure, they achieved personal bests and delivered outstanding performances in the pool. This championship was a real test of their abilities, and they rose to the occasion, proving that South Africa can compete at the highest level.”
