When 16-year-old Samuel Booysen from Eerste River was announced as one of four lifesavers to represent South Africa at the World Lifesaving Championship in Italy, his dream of representing his country came true.
He participated as a member of the Clifton Lifesaving Club in the Lifesaving South Africa National Championship in Gqeberha from 24 to 27 March and achieved accolades in four different events. He came fourth in the beach sprint for senior men age group 21 to 31 years; came first in beach sprint for junior men age 16 years old; came second in beach flags for junior men age 16 years and won the beach relay team event for junior men in the age group 16 years old.
“From Tuesday 20 September until Sunday 9 October I’ll be part of the SA team at the World Championship in Riccione in Italy. To be there each lifesaver has to fork out R50 000 to cover costs and being from a disadvantaged community with no big businesses my parents will have to help raise money to make my dream come true. I am part of the club development swimming programme of the Department of Culture Affairs and Sport and my swimming coach is Christopher van Niekerk, who develops the children in the Eerste River and Blue Downs areas at the Blue Downs indoor swimming pool,” he says.
He is swimming for Khayelitsha Aquatics in partnership with Strand Lifesaving club, who develops children for the surf programme.
Booysen is financially responsible for his plane ticket, accommodation, visa and kit and if he is unable to get the sponsorship of about R50 000, his dream of representing his country will go up in flames.
“My parents are raising funds by selling food, but it won’t be enough to cover all my costs. If anyone can donate towards my expenses it would be appreciated, and seeing that I am the only representative from a disadvantaged community, you’ll help me achieve my dream.
“I started swimming in 2014, but my interest was jogged when I saw Chad le Clos beating Michael Phelps to the gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. It was two years later that I joined the swimming club at my school, Eerste River High, and received my first swimming lessons,” Booysen says.
Not long after joining he was promoted to the Khayelitsha Aquatics Club where he competed against other swimming clubs in the Western Cape. In 2017, 2018 and 2019 he was invited to represent the Western Cape at competitions in Oudtshoorn, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). He competed at these championships against swimmers from Canada, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
“I joined the Monwabisi nippers in February 2019 and was selected to participate in the Western Cape Lifesaving Nippers Championship in PE from 24 until 31 March in PE. I won my first two medals, one silver and one bronze medal. I competed in the Lifesaving Championship at Clifton Beach in the same year and came first in the 100 m beach sprint race and received my Western Cape colours. After this I never looked back and with the help of Coach Chris and the coaching staff at Khayelitsha Aquatics I progressed to where I am today, because they believed in my talent and that I have the potential to make it on the big stage,” he says.
Michelle Hamel, Nipper/Lifesaving Officer, at Strand Lifesaving Club, says that Booysen is part of their “Give back to the community programme” and she emphasises that he has grown from strength to strength and has worked hard towards this achievement of representing SA internationally.
Booysen is very appreciative of the effort of his parents and the sacrifices they and Basil George of Eerste River made by transporting him to and from swimming training and always having his back.
- If you can assist in any way, contact his mother Alfreda Booysen on 083 975 7510 or Chris van Niekerk on 084 584 0653.
