Merrifield Preparatory pupil Adam Brown broke four records at the Inter-Regional Gala in Graaff-Reinet on November 1.
Adam, who is the captain of the Under 13 Border and Preppies waterpolo team, said his goal at this year’s Inter-Regional Gala, up against schools from the Albany and Union regions, was to beat the previous records.
And he achieved all this and more by setting four new records at the gala.
Competing in the boys’ U13 heats, in the 50m freestyle the young record-breaker finished in 29 seconds; in the 50m Open he claimed a 2 min 45 sec win; in the 50m backstroke he ended in 35 sec and in the 50m butterfly he finished in 32 sec.
Speaking of his incredible achievement in having broken four records, Adam said: “It means a lot as my name will be on the record boards.
“Though the races challenged my fitness, I was able to overcome other competitors after the first turn, as underwater is my strongest point.”
The Amathole region placed third in the gala with a total of 313 points, behind Albany with 366 points and Union in first place with 454 points.
In addition to an exceptional swimming season, Adam will also represent Border from December 10-14 at the Inter-Provincial Tournament in Durban.
The young star, who started swimming competitively in Grade 5, trains five to six times a week, focusing on swimming in the morning and waterpolo in the afternoon, while juggling his academics in between.
This will be his last year representing Merrifield Prep and he said the time spent with friends, including swimming peer Colby Braun, had made the season worthwhile.
“I aspire to make the SA national team one day, “ Adam said. “Ryan Murphy, an American backstroker, as well as Chad Le Clos and Matthew Sates are my inspirations.”
