The African Youth Games is a showcase of South Africa’s next generation of champions and Jayden Williams is hungry to prove he can be one of the future elites in swimming, writes Mark Lemke in Luanda.
The 16-year-old competed in the Region 5 Youth Games in July against a field of older swimmers and the step up in age group may not have brought him the desired results, but it provided him with irreplaceable experience and a strong mindset for his time in Angola.
“Competing against age groups older than me at Region 5 was really tough, but I love pushing myself and I embrace challenges. Here I am competing in my own age group and I am really excited. I’ve been thinking to myself – I have swum against guys way older than me, imagine swimming against the competition here and I swim faster!”
Before the first night of swimming finals at the Alvalade Swimming Pool, Williams talked to Team SA about his special relationship with swimming and what he aims to achieve in life.
“I started swimming because I almost drowned at seven-years-old. I was at my aunt’s place and slipped off the step. My father jumped in to get me out of the water and told me that I needed to go swim. I learnt the basics like floating and kicking but then the senior coach told me that I must continue to swim. It took off from there.”
The tall Paarl Boys High School student first dreamt of being a rugby lock, but his undeniable swimming talent and his love for the water has him dedicated to perfecting his craft. “I enjoy training, even when it is early mornings before school,” Williams says with a chuckle, “but I won’t lie, sometimes I have to fight during school sometimes to keep my eyes open!”
Despite the very early mornings, Williams has finished his Grade 11 exams and will begin his matric year in 2026. He wants to attend Stellenbosch University to study accounting. “I want to be an accountant and a swimmer. It would be a lot of work but I think I can manage it.”
Williams has a vision of what he wants for his future, with one clear picture glowing brighter than the rest. “My big dream is to swim in the 2028 LA Olympics and make my parents proud. There were so many times that I thought I couldn’t keep up and balance my school work and swimming, but my parents kept encouraging me to keep going. They believed that I had a real future in the sport and I owe where I am today to them.
“My parents are my motivation. My dad, even through financial troubles, always finds a way to give me the best opportunities possible. I want to help him and show him that his hard work paid off for me. My mom has also worked so hard for me. She has done back-a-buddys and found sponsors to help send me to competitions in other countries. I owe everything to them, I want to repay them, and I want to make them proud.”
Williams competes for the first time at these Games on Saturday. He is confident in his ability, driven in his preparation, and hungry to create the best future he possibly can. Not just for him, but for his family too. Hard work, passion and unconditional love – what better recipe for a future champion?
Photo: Roger Sedres
