Ronan Wantenaar and Heleni Stergiadis, retained their Ludorum trophies last weekend in Windhoek. The Namibian swimmers walked away as senior Victor and Victrix Ludorum title holders after taking part in the four-day Bank Windhoek Long Course National Championships.
Representing Marlins Swimming Club, Wantenaar recorded 3 438 Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) points while Dolphins’ Stergiadis logged 3 421 points.
Apart from swimming, the duo take their education seriously. Asked how he manages his tertiary studies and swimming, Wantenaar said his love for swimming helps him to focus in life.
“I have been training hard since last year, even throughout my exams. It was not easy, but the passion for the sport helped me through it all,” said Wantenaar, who is studying for his electrical engineering degree in South Africa. He also won eight other individual awards.
Wantenaar’s advice to his fellow youth is to keep believing in themselves and their talents.
“Keep doing what you love, and you will always be happy in life.”
Stergiadis, who scooped her third Senior Victrix Ludorum, said she was particularly proud to be part of the championships again.
“I saw that everybody put in their best performance after coming back from the African Swimming Confederation (CANA). The spirit from everyone, including my team Dolphins, was tremendous. Thank you to my team and Bank Windhoek,” said Stergiadis, who is currently in her last year in high school. “This is my most important year to date, and I am still deciding what I need to study at tertiary level, but as long as I can keep swimming and studying, I will be happy.”
Dolphins’ Oliver Durand, scooped the Junior Victor Ludorum, while Maya Stange won her first Junior Victrix Ludorum. Durand, who is currently in Grade 7 said that he will now focus on breaking records and his education.
Stange said: “I am so thrilled after putting in so much work. It feels good, and I am happy about my achievement. Thank you, everyone, for the support.”
Bank Windhoek’s head of corporate affairs, Hayley Allen congratulated winners.
“What makes Bank Windhoek proud is despite the physical demands of the sport, how their swimming helps these athletes balance the demands of their education, is remarkable.”
With a total of nine records broken, the Bank Windhoek Long Course National Championships saw 176 swimmers from seven clubs race for top honours in 1 493 events. Of these clubs, four were from Windhoek, two from Swakopmund, and one from Oranjemund. They are Aqua Swimming Club, Dolphins Swimming Club, Flippers Swimming Club, Marlins Aquatics Club, Phoenix Swimming Club, Swakopmund Swimming Club, and Oranjemund Swimming Club. The team trophy went to Dolphins with 4 257 points. They also won the trophy in 2019.
The Namibian Swimming Union (NASU) hosted the event. “We are proud that our swimmers managed to achieve great results. They were competing on the back of CANA Zone IV in Botswana and swam in cold and rainy conditions. The swimmers resolve, and tenacity is commendable,” said NASU’s executive committee member, Nicky McNamara.
– Bank Windhoek
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