By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Lesedi Makhanda – (Who is Lesedi, how it all started to realize his swimming talent).
Lesedi was born on the 27 July 2008.
It all started when he was around 2 years old when he first took his first swimming lessons just to be water safe. As time goes on I realised how much he loved being in the water, and after I research top athletes in the world such as the Williams sisters, Tiger Woods parents cultivated and even coached their kids when they were young basically they practically raised the kids in their respective sporting codes. I then took a decision that I am going to cultivate swimming in my son since he loves it so much, I then started enrolling him for stroke correction classes and watching swimming competitions with him. After stroke correction was done, I then moved him to a club Westrand Swimming Club where his training was taken to another level and he started participating in Swimming SA galas, as they say the rest is history, said Lesedi.
– Education.
Lesedi is currently a grade 7 at Curro Krugersdorp, he has been offered part scholarship by 2 prestigious high schools in Gauteng.
– Career Prospects (What you would like to study after finishing school).
Initially he would want to be a professional swimmer, as to what he wants to study it always changes from time to time, I guess he is still young to know exactly. Sports is always at the forefront however his ambitions is to be a scientist, to being a vet and entrepreneur.
– Sporting Achievements.
He has obtained the following medals during 2019 Central Gauteng Aquatic Short Course Championships:
- Gold – 200 Free relay and 200 Medley relay
- Bronze – 400 and 200 Freestyle
On the same Championships he obtained the following ribbons
- 4th place – 100 Freestyle,
- 6th place – 100 Butterfly and
- 9th place – 50 Freestyle
During 2019 he obtained the following Merit Awards from Curro Primary:
- Blue Merit Award – for swimming level 2 Central Gauteng Aquatics Championships
- Blue Merit Award – Robotics Regionals Competition Participation
- White Merit Award – for Swimming League Winners
- White Merit Award – for Hockey League Winners – (he even qualified for trials for District 12 team, but unfortunately, he did not make it)
During 2021 he obtained the following medal during Regionals level2 Championship
- Gold – 100 Meter Fly
On the same Championship he obtained the following ribbons:
- 5th place – 50 Meter Fly
- 10th place – 100 Meter Back
- 5th place – 200 Meter Free
- 9th place – 50 Meter Back
During the Crusaders Club Awards Ceremony, he received the following medals:
- Bronze certificated of Improvement.
- Certificate of outstanding achievement
- Top Male Achiever – level 2 Regionals
– Why is He So Good?
It is purely hard work, dedication, and support from his mother and coaches.
– What You May Not Know.
- He also play Hockey and is currently invited to trial for a district team
- He is an avid guitar player.
– Struggles and Inspiration.
It hasn’t been an easy journey during 2019 he sustained an injury on his shoulder during KZN Seagulls Winter Short Course Champs he had to be rushed to emergency during the competition, that injury took him a month to heal before he could go back to pool. During the same year around June he was diagnosed with Bronchopneumonia which took him out of the pool for a month too. During 2018 we sustained a house burglary which say our only vehicle being stolen too, it was difficult having to attend training and galas without mommy’s car, but he survived thanks to the coach and other swim parents who assisted with transportation. It is not easy financially to invest in sport like swimming when you are being raised by a single parent there are so many things that has to be sacrificed just to prioritise school and swimming expenses. Lesedi’s aspiration is to represent South Africa at an international platform like Olympics, he is looking forward to fly the SA flag high.
– Career Highlights.
- Winning medals (as mentioned above) during his championships.
- Obtaining his level 3 times as per Swimming SA
- Representing his school swimming team and assisting the team to enable the school to move to the next level on the league
- Being offered part sport scholarships by 2 prestigious high school in Gauteng
– Conclusion.
Lesedi is a young man who has big dreams, he is very dedicated and committed to his craft, he just been given an opportunity to be part of one of the high school which is very good both on academics and sport (especially swimming) as much as he has been offered scholarship it does not cover all his tuition and boarding fees (when necessary), which will put more pressure on the already strained financial situation his mother finds herself in. We are pleading for companies who are able to sponsor a young man to fulfil his dream of being a professional swimmer, this dream might be threated by all the escalating costs of school, swimming expenses (such as club fees, coaches fee, training equipment and competing gear).