Michael Van Heerden (Head of Fleming 2025) has been selected for the South African National High Performance Olympic Youth Swimming Training Squad.
It is part of Swimming South Africa's national high-performance squad system, implemented to identify, support, and develop talented swimmers to prepare them for international competitions such as the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2028 Olympics.
Michael explained that the selection was based on the times he has swum at the SA Senior and Junior National Championships. "I will now participate in national training camps in preparation for upcoming national and international competitions, subject to always achieving the relevant qualifying times for each of the respective competitions," he said. He started swimming competitively when he was 10 years old and has been competing at national level through the age groups, and now at senior level.
While swimming remains his primary focus, Michael's aquatic talents extend to water polo as well, a sport he has played since he was 10 years old. "I have always been passionate about aquatics and have enjoyed both swimming competitively and playing water polo. Water polo has been an integral part of my school sport journey," he said. "I also played water polo at provincial level through the years as part of the Gauteng Schools water polo team and have participated at a national level at the SA Inter-Provincial Championships.
"It was not always easy to juggle both competitive swimming and water polo, but with the support of my coaches, I have somehow managed to do it. After taking the first term off from water polo to focus on swimming this year, I came back in the third term to go on tour with my team one last time to participate in the SACS Water Polo Tournament, where we won gold. It was a great way to end my school water polo career alongside teammates who have become friends over the years. That has been part of the strong brotherhood and the friendships I have made at St John's."
Michael will be going to New York next year to train with former US captain, World champion and Olympic medallist Tom Wilkins, while studying at Fordham University, where Tom is the head coach. "
My dream is to represent South Africa at the Olympic Games one day. I am young enough to try to qualify for both the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games. Those are big dreams that will demand serious commitment," he said.
"I am often reminded of the words of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, who said: 'If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.'"
Serious words from an impressive young man. We are very proud of him and will be watching his progress eagerly.