How Do You Balance Your School Work and Sports?

Zanre Oberholzer

Who is Zanré Oberholzer? I am a goal-driven young lady who aims to make dreams come true. I am humble, down to earth, and hard working. I always try to be positive by pushing myself to do my best. Also, people say that I have no social life mainly because I am so focused on swimming.

When did it all start? I fell in love with water at the age of five. Because I was born a premature baby, I always had the heart to practise and perfect my swimming and at the same time prove my peers that I could shine. The passion to make a name for myself started at a competition where I swam amongst my peers and managed to earn a certificate. This was not enough for me because there were some who got medals. This pushed me to strive to also get a medal one day. As from that day, the will to get a medal always drove me to do my best at all times. In the long run, I grew the vision of swimming at gala competitions and to get myself recognised. Rentia Meyer, who was my coach from the onset, saw the potential in me and encouraged me to be a better swimmer.

Who inspires you? I am inspired by a number of people who I look up to and want to be like one day. The first is Natalie du Toit. This lady inspires me because of the fact that she lost one of her legs and nobody ever thought she would make it. Her perseverance is something unique that many young swimmers can look up to and learn never to give up. The second is Ryk Neething. He is one of a few swimmers who was discouraged by people from swimming but he never gave up. He kept trying hard until he got himself recognised. I am also inspired by young swimmers all over the world who have made it despite the odds. I am also inspired me by Coach Ryan Skinner. He is my source of inspiration because he believes in me and he always encourages me to train harder. He pushes me to further limits and believes in my capabilities even when I don’t. He’s not only my coach but more of my mentor. I think that my coaches have been truly valuable to my swimming career and have always believed in me.

How do you balance your school work and sports?

I try to do my school work in class or after my training sessions. For me, swimming is more important than my school work but I try to shine in both. I would however never give up my schooling at any time but I just pay more attention to my sports life. During the weekends, I try to catch up with my school work just to make sure that I shine at both. What are your future plans? My biggest plans are to go to the Olympics. I want to get a good world ranking at the upcoming Senior World Championships this year. Overall, I want to become very competitive and create a name for myself outside the borders of Namibia. This year, I would like to pass Grade 9 and become an architect or a veterinarian in the near future. My future is mainly just in sports. So, I would like to grow and put Namibia on the map in terms of swimming.

What motivates you each day? The fact that I want to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. I want to represent Namibia at an international level. Swimming really means a lot to me. Most of my friends are swimmers and they have become like family.

What advice would you give your peers? As a swimmer, you always seek to improve your time, so you are constantly competing with yourself. I believe that swimming is my God-given talent because no one knew I would make it this far, but I have. Swimming is tough, it is a hard sport. It requires a lot of patience, sacrifice and perseverance. At times you feel like you are not moving forward and you feel like giving up but you should not. Nothing good comes easy and with hard work, you will always succeed. With the right attitude, and a lot of practise, you will find swimming easier and even fun.

Recent Achievements 2012 11th African Senior Championships in Nairobi, Kenya Sixth place, 50m Backstroke (New Namibian Record) Seventh place, 100m Backstroke (New Namibian Record) Fourth place, 200m Backstroke (New Namibian Record)

National Swimming Championships, Windhoek Namibia First place, 200m Backstroke First place, 400m Medley Open Relay First place, 100m Backstroke Girls 13-14 (New Namibian Record) First runner up – Junior Victrix Lodurom First Runner-up – Senior Victrix Lodurom Total medals: 3 Gold’s, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze

Zone VI Under 20 Youth Games Championships, Lusaka Zambia Second place, 200m Backstroke Third Place, 100m Backstroke Fourth Place, 50m Backstroke Total medals: one Silver, one Bronze

2013 Aqua pentathlon Second place, Girls 13-14

SA Level 3 Age Group Championships, South Africa Nine events swum Five finals Three Namibian Age group records Three Namibian Open Records Two Silver medals One Bronze medal

CANA Zone 3 and 4 Swimming Championships, Lusaka, Zambia Five Gold medals Four Silver medals One Bronze medal Five CANA records One Namibian Age Group Record One Namibian Open Record Victrix Ludorum

Top Achievements Zanre’ qualified for : 1. Senior World Championships in Barcelona, Spain (28 July to 4 August 2013) 2. Junior World Championships in Dubai (26 August to 31 August 2013) 3. Junior African Championships in Zambia (September 2013)

Zanre Oberholzer is a young swimmer who has numerous swimming records to her name. With a long list of impressive records she still continues to rise and rise.

Zanre has recently been named the Junior Sports Woman of the Year and tells the Youth Paper about her love for swimming and her achievements.

“It was such an achievement to get nominated for Junior Sports Woman of the Year but to receive the award is amazing. It felt like I actually got awarded for the hard work and effort I put into training every day.

“This would actually not have been possible without my coach, Ryan Skinner, who pushes me to the limits and believes in me so much. All the little speeches before big competitions or even training, means so much to me. My parents also plays a big role in my swimming life by driving me to swimming every day, and in the mornings, six days a week.

“You see, from a young age I have always loved the water. Just to play in it though but later on I realised that I actually have a talent in this sport, which made me become more determined and focused on my goals.I have always loved working hard because of the dreams I have,” she said.

Zanre said she starts eating right two months before a competition and she makes sure that she has enough rest.

“Before a competition I rest early to reserve my energy levels. This means no late nights. Before a race, there is of course all the suiting up into the costumes, but I always have a little stretch, swing my arms around and jump a bit just to get the energy going and then when I stand in front of the block, with my goggles on, I close my eyes and pray. And when I open them, I’m ready. I also prepare myself mentally by seeing the race inside my head and planning how I want it to turn out,” she said.

Zanre also had a few positive words to share with her peers, especially girls.

“Swimming is a really hard sport, especially when you want to perform well, but you have to then be strong and push through and be determined and committed because with hard work you can go beyond your limits. You have to be prepared to sacrifice a lot, meaning that late nights are unacceptable. You have to have the will to succeed,” she said.