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The Rhodesia Herald,
March 16, 1978
CONVENT School girl Amanda Martin (14) was the only Rhodesian swimmer to win an individual gold medal in the South African championships at Ellis Park recently.
Amanda won the women’s 100m breast stroke title and a new Rhodesian record for the distance.
She had previously beaten the Rhodesian record in the national championships in January and beat her own record at Ellis Park.
In the test match which followed the South African championships, Amanda was leading in the 100m breaststroke and with only 15 metres to go swallowed water and stopped in midstroke to allow Natalie Gaskin (SA) into first place.
Four or five Rhodesian women swimmers have been breaking national breast stroke records this season and the 100m record has been virtually up for auction, but Amanda was the first and the last to break it.
Two years ago, Amanda was not good enough to make the Mashonaland team, but since then, she has won the Mashonaland and Rhodesian junior and senior titles.
Her coach Billy Johns said yesterday Amanda trains before school during term-time, covering between 3 000 and 4 000 metres with another 6 000 to 7 000 metres after school.
“In the holidays, she does about 12 000 metres a day. She has been rewarded for very hard work.
“Amanda is intelligent which you need to be as a swimmer and with overseas competition could go a long way.”
LESSONS FOR TODAY
- It is never too late to achieve your goals. Amanda failed to make the Mashonaland team two years earlier, but kept working hard and finally succeeded.
- Success knows no gender, especially when one works hard and is resilient. Amanda, a girl, was the only person in the team that managed to secure a gold medal for the country in South Africa. So, the country’s history is not only shaped by the achievements of men but women as well.
- In life, it is important to set targets and routines for ourselves and to stick to them religiously to ensure success. Amanda was successful because she stuck to her routine religiously.
Online Reporter