 |
|
| Chad
HO |
| Sport |
Open Water Swimming |
| NOC |
South Africa
|
| Gender | Men |
| Born | 21 Jun 1990
in Johannesburg, SAF |
| Height | 1.71 m |
|
|
|
|
|
Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
Action Swim Academy: South Africa |
Why this sport? |
"It [learning to swim] was a safety mechanism so that I could play around the pool without my mother having to worry, as my two older sisters were big swimmers. I started as a pool swimmer but one day I took a bet with my coach, that if I did an open water swim I could miss training the next day. From there it just progressed, and I have enjoyed it so much that I have just stuck to it." |
General Interest |
Hero / Idol |
Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, US swimmer Michael Phelps. (anthonygrote.com, 10 Feb 2015; speedo.co.za, 30 May 2011) |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He was first in a swimming pool at 18 months old, and began competing in distance races at age 13. |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Coach |
Languages |
English |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
King of Midmar [for his successes in the Midmar Mile race in South Africa]. (dailynews.openwaterswimming.com, 08 Feb 2015) |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Persistence is key, training to be an athlete is not easy and it does not just 'come' to you no matter how good you are. You need to stick through the tough times to get to the good times." (proudlychinesesa.wixsite.com, 14 Nov 2017) |
Other information |
RETIREMENT
In September 2020 he announced his retirement via social media and took up a position working as a coach at Action Swim Academy in Durban, South Africa. "For 17 years, I have represented South Africa in the sport of swimming, specialising in open water swimming for the most part. I am ready to take on the next chapter of my life. I have spent the last few months [speaking in September 2020] gaining knowledge and qualified as a swimming coach whilst cooking up something great. For now, I am poolside and honoured to be working alongside my coach Alisdair Hatfield where I can hopefully encourage others to dream big and reach their own life goals as I did." (openwaterswimming.com, 24 Sep 2020; Action Swim Academy Facebook page, 12 Sep 2020; Instagram profile, 24 Sep 2020; Facebook page, 24 Sep 2020)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
In September 2018 he began serving as a member of Swimming South Africa's Athletes' Committee. (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 05 Sep 2018; sabrinalove.co.za, 01 Jul 2016)
FURTHER EDUCATION
He studied for a time a bachelor degree in education at the University of South Africa [UNISA] in Pretoria, South Africa. (Facebook profile, 24 Sep 2020) |
Further Personal Information |
Family |
Partner Cassandra Wright, daughter Harley-Janne [2017] |
Residence |
Durban, RSA |
Higher education |
Education - Varsity College: Westville, RSA |
General Interest |
Other sports |
He has represented South Africa in surf lifesaving. He won two medals at the 2012 World Championships in Adelaide, SA, Australia. (SportsDeskOnline, 18 Nov 2012) |
Awards and honours |
He has been named South African Swimmer of the Year on four occasions. (sabrinalove.co.za, 21 Aug 2016) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Competing at the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2016. (proudlychinesesa.wixsite.com, 14 Nov 2017) |
Milestones |
In 2009 he became the first South African to win a medal in open water swimming at the world championships by claiming bronze in the 5km in Rome, Italy. In 2015 he became the first South African to win a gold medal in open water swimming at the world championships when he triumphed in the 5km in Kazan, Russian Federation. (sport24.co.za, 05 Aug 2015; SportsDeskOnline, 01 Aug 2015; gulfnews.com, 25 Jul 2015) |
Most influential person in career |
His mother. (openwaterswimming.com, 24 Sep 2020) |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 23 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
10km |
1:49:37.9 |
| 15 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
5km - Team Relay |
56:52.9 |
| 11 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
5km |
54:48.6 |
| 13 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
10km |
1:52:29.9 |
| 12 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
5km - Team Relay |
56:05.3 |
| 1 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
5km |
55:17.6 |
| 19 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
10km |
1:50:47.9 |
| 18 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
5km - Team Time Trial |
1:00:31.2 |
| 8 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
10km |
1:49:26.3 |
| 4 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
5km |
53:33.7 |
| 11 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
5km - Team Time Trial |
56:34.7 |
| 20 |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
10km |
1:54:58.6 |
| |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
5km - Team Time Trial |
DNS |
| 3 |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
5 km |
56:41.9 |
| 23 |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
10km |
1:53:13.1 |
| 21 |
2007 |
Melbourne, VIC, AUS |
5km |
57:42.1 |
African Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 4 |
2008 |
Johannesburg, RSA |
800m Freestyle |
8:30.35 |
| 2 |
2008 |
Johannesburg, RSA |
1500m Freestyle |
16:18.34 |
World Series |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 94 |
2019 |
|
10km |
|
| 17 |
2019 |
Beau Vallon, SEY |
10km |
1:57:21.00 |
| 69 |
2018 |
|
10km |
|
| 29 |
2018 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
10km |
1:53:47.8 |
| 17 |
2018 |
Beau Vallon, SEY |
10km |
1:49:57.80 |
| 19 |
2016 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
10km |
1:48:13.50 |
| 13 |
2012 |
Santos, BRA |
10km |
2:11:53.09 |
| 7 |
2012 |
Viedma, ARG |
10km |
1:55:43 |
| 3 |
2011 |
Hong Kong, CHN |
10km |
1:58:17.40 |
| 6 |
2011 |
Setúbal, POR |
10km |
1:40:39.5 |
| 4 |
2011 |
Shantou, CHN |
10km |
1:54:29.75 |
| 1 |
2010 |
|
10km |
|
| 5 |
2010 |
Cancún, MEX |
10km |
2:08:06.3 |
| 1 |
2010 |
Hong Kong, CHN |
10km |
2:03:54.40 |
| 3 |
2010 |
Lac St. Jean, QC, CAN |
10km |
2:05:20.7 |
| 2 |
2010 |
Santos, BRA |
10km |
2:14:12.44 |
| 4 |
2010 |
Setúbal, POR |
10km |
2:01:12.8 |
| 4 |
2010 |
Shantou, CHN |
10km |
1:55:38.18 |
| 2 |
2010 |
Viedma, ARG |
10km |
1:51:00 |
| 4 |
2009 |
New York, NY, USA |
10km |
1:47:44.5 |
| 10 |
2009 |
Sharjah, UAE |
10km |
1:49:26.46 |
| 39 |
2007 |
|
10km |
|
African Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 1 |
2008 |
Germiston, RSA |
5 km |
58:39 |
| |
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