I met you when I was but a young boy, 12 years of age. From that day I knew you were special. I fell in love with you and have never looked back. I remember our humble beginnings, getting to know each other (training). I only used to see you once a day in school; I tool part in many sports and did not have enough time to focus just on you. I think this was a benefit, as it showed me what sports I was more talented in and enjoyed. With time, I got to love and appreciate you more and more – you were for me, but I also know that you are not for everyone!

Attending Merchiston Preparatory School, a great start for a young boy, I would swim in meets, having fun competing for you against other boys (gala’s). From that day racing was the thing to me. I would challenge myself to see what I could do and in the process see who I could beat, but every time it came down to my personal goals – in getting to know you and myself better. I love racing and I always will - that is the thrill for me. Winning is only the icing on the cake!

I then moved onto Maritzburg College, a tough place for a young man to go, but a place to which I will always be grateful. This place continued to teach me manners and how to be tough even when things do not seem to be going your way. I continued to play many sports and still competed in the pool for you. I found it a lot tougher as all the other boys had started getting stronger, taller and faster – they were becoming men, while I was storing my growth spurt for better days. It did not make too much difference to me, as I still had my lane to race in and to attain my goals. I still got to see you every day. It was tough at times as it is a bit harder to get to know you when you are not sharing your knowledge with me (winning). I remember the day, clearly as yesterday, when my dad told me "every dog has its day", helping me not to give up but to continue setting personal challenges, even if it was not to win, but merely to try my best to make the swim team, and to always enjoy the journey.

This helped me when I finally grew and started getting stronger. I held onto the ideas and values I had learned when I was racing against myself. I believe that is an important lesson in life; not to set your sights by another man's binoculars, but to look at your own life and set your own challenges.

Today I look back at what you have done in my life. You have brought me all the way to America, given me a free education, and I have been to so many places in the world representing my glorious country and sharing it all the time with you, God, and all those I love. But most of all you have taught me about life and that there are always going to be times of sunshine and times of rain, and that in the times of rain is when we make the biggest gains, and in the times of sunshine we need to appreciate it and get a suntan!

I must also thank you for all the people I have met and friends I have made through our common ground of knowing you. I would never have met all these people and made all these friends if I had never met you. I hope to always remember to give back to you some of what you have given to me…

So now we continue our relationship and I hope to get to know you even better in the next few months, however just know this, whatever happens it is and always will be an honor to know you. I thank you for all the memories… and yes, "every dog has its day!" Winning medals is for a finite time, but in life every day is what you make of it.

Thank you, swimming