home
subscribe
advertise
contact
nelson mandela bay's family lifestyle
author:
xandre van der berg
plunge
photography:
zuko, lifegate photography
issue:
7, spring 2008
She's 12, lives right here in Nelson Mandela Bay and for most of the past season she was the top ranked breaststroker in the woman’s open division in South Africa. Meet Jessica Liss who started swimming competitively at age 9 and qualified for the Eastern Province senior team at the age of 10. “I've always enjoyed swimming and there is no doubt about it, breaststroke has always been my thing”, says Jessica. “Swimming isn't an easy sport. There's a lot of training to be done. You get up early, practice twice a day and it doesn't matter whether it is summer or winter, hot or cold, you've got to keep at it. I train twice a day, every day of the week, except for Sundays. I have a contract with the East Cape Academy of Sport. I follow a gym program at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, under the guidance of Nadus Niewoudt of the EC Academy of Sport. I do fitness training and work on my technique under the care of Gareth Barnard, my coach at the Karoly Swimming Academy. It takes up a lot of time, but if you enjoy it, it is really worth the effort, regardless of how well you perform.” “I never had swimming success in mind. It started with our school Gala. I did well and the rest just sort of happened. It is fun though, I can't imagine spending so much time on something that I do not like.” In 2007 and 2008, just four years into swimming, Jessica was named the Eastern Province Junior Swimmer of the Year, and Mail & Guardian named her one of the Top 200 Young South Africans. In the same two consecutive years she was also awarded the South African Primary Schools Victrix Ludorum and best Individual Performance award. Jessica also represented South Africa in the 2007 Swimming World Cup. Jessica lives with her parents and twin-sister in Linkside, Port Elizabeth. “My sister is my best friend. We're totally different and yet we are totally connected. We love shopping, especially for the latest fashion items. We go to the movies with friends or just hang-out. She's so supportive and when I miss school, because of competitions, she's the one who'll help me catch-up on my school-work. We're very close.” Jessica's parents are both educators, her father being principal at St George's Preparatory and her mother a teacher at St Marks School. When you meet with them, the pride is evident, but it is also clear that this pride was present, long before Jessica became a swimming star. Perhaps this is why Jessica is able to be so humble and off-handed about her huge success. “I love history and English”, she heads off on a tangent, even though the interview is about plunging into swimming stardom. “Books about people fascinate me - real people, with real lives. Maybe that is why I like Mischa Barton, of OC-fame so much – she's really my favorite actress. I also play tennis and do some cross-country running.” It is interesting how often the spot-light finds people who do not want its glow on them at all. Jessica has been interviewed on numerous radio stations across the country and also appeared on various television sport-shows. This year she competed at the Olympic Trials and missed out on qualifying for the Olympic Games in Beijing by a mere 0,3 of a second, in the 200m breaststroke. Had she made this time, she would have been the youngest athlete ever to have qualified for the Olympic Games. “I want to qualify for the Olympics. I want to compete there, in the finals and bring back a medal.” There is no doubt, this dream will come true for young Jessica who, at only twelve, ranked number one in the country, in the Women's Open Division for the 200m breaststroke, for most of this year's swimming season. In the world, while not even at high school yet, she is ranked eighteenth for this event. I am proud of my achievement. I think anybody likes it when they do well at something, but no achievement is just yours. I am grateful to my parents and sister. Without them I would not have persevered. I am grateful to my school, St George's Prep, where I am being challenged and encouraged to make the most of who I am. Speedo International's sponsorship opens many doors and other athletes, like Penny Heyns, who took the time to have breakfast with me, inspire me. I am privileged and that has nothing to do with who I am. It is a gift.”
| articles
| homes
| life
| art
| sport
| well-being
| travel
| education
| food
| relationships
| money
| motoring
| fashion
| gardening
| horses
| books
| kids
| faith
| community
| NGO directory
