Ellen does Plettenberg Bay and Lifesaving ‘Springboks’ proud on Durban beach
was selected to represent the youth team of South Africa at the International Surf Rescue Championships held in Durban on September 28 and 29 and October 2. Team SA competed against Australia, New Zealand, Spain and the USA.
Ellen gained confidence in the pool and ocean thanks to Adopt a Swimmer founder Louise Auersperg and has been a member of Plett Surf Lifesaving Clubs Nippers development team since the age of 12. The opportunity of being part of these initiatives resulted from her involvement in the Born in Africa project since Grade 2.
A student at Kranshoek Primary at the time, her exceptional talent and perseverance in different spoiling disciplines convinced the Born in Africa team to support her in pursuing a career in sports. She now attends Outeniqua High School in George, where she is a member of the school’s athletics and netball teams.
Says Born in Africa director Isabelle Brink: “Ellen is an extremely motivated and hard-working young woman who fights for what she wants. Year after year she has won gold medals for flags and sprint at Nipper’s national championships, so now it was time to take on the bigger fish.”
All the hard work preparing herself for this international competition paid off as she obtained a third place in the sprint as well as second place in flags on all three days of the event – and that while she is a 17-year-old competing in the U19 category.
Thanks are due to everyone who has supported Ellen over the years and contributed towards her trip to Durban: Toralf Nordbotten, Plett Surf Lifesaving Club, Hilton Nagel, Face Adrenalin, Tony Lubner, Pierre Dreyer, Andrew and Lyndall Hill, Plett Water Polo Club, Robberg Fine Foods and Wayne Craig, Beacon Isle KwikSpar and Tops, The Table restaurant, Ocean Safaris Plett, Vinthi Neufeld, Kranshoek Dolphins RC, Born in Africa, Delina Kleinschmidt, and everyone who bought raffle tickets to enable her participation in KZN.