Durban teen Sarah McLaren to represent SA at World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships
Sarah McLaren is heading to the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Romania
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Durban teen Sarah McLaren is not just preparing for her matric trial exams, but representing South Africa at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships.
McLaren is part of team SA who will be participating in Romania from August 19 to 24.
The World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships is an international swimming championship event organised biennially by World Aquatics for swimmers aged 14 to 18 years.
Sarah, a Grade 12 Durban Girls' College learner, will be participating in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.
Sarah said while it is a stressful time for her with the trial exams beginning a day before she is due to leave for Romania, she is looking forward to participating amongst the world's best junior swimming champs.
Sarah's debut at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships was in 2022.
"I was very nervous to participate internationally for the first time. But I didn't do too bad. This time I am better prepared mentally and physically.
"I aim to improve on my personal best. I have learnt to block out what is unnecessary and focus on what I need to be focusing on. I would like to make the semi-final and then the final in my events," said the 18-year-old from Newlands East.
Sarah, who belongs to Aqua Athletes club, trains daily. She is an individual medley swimmer.
She started swimming in Grade 1 when she joined a club just to learn how to swim.
"I was noticed as having talent and moved to the seniors and by the age of 10 started competing."
Her first tour for South Africa was at the African Swimming Championships in Ghana in 2021. In 2023 she was selected to swim for the SA U20 team at the BRICS Games in Durban. Earlier this year Sarah competed in Egypt at the African Swimming Championships where she placed third in the 200m breaststroke.
Sarah's goal is to qualify for the Olympic Games.