The Tatler
Vineyard Swimming Club’s Tai Pearson, 14, pictured here at last year’s national junior swimming championships in Stellenbosch, was in top form at the national champions that ended in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), at the weekend. Equally impressive at last year’s junior nationals where he collected nine gold medals, Tai, from Newlands and a Grade 9 pupil at Rondebosch Boys’ set a number of SA and Western Cape records again this year, winning six gold medals and three silver medals in the nine events he swam to represent the Western Cape. This six-day gala was officially billed as the Commonwealth Trials but included all the top senior and junior swimmers in the country.
Tai swam 18 times over the six days, nine prelims to qualify for nine finals (-see here-). In every final he swam a personal best and, if he keeps following this trajectory, he should qualify for next year’s world junior championship, says Vineyard coach Rhys Hugo.
Reference: The Tatler