A senior pup with a golden heart and a lifelong love for water has once again turned a competitive swimming event into a moment of pure joy… and South Africa can’t get enough.
Tshwane, South Africa (09 December 2025) – A pup has once again reminded South Africa that joy can turn up anywhere… even in the middle of a competitive swimming gala.
Northern Tigers Swimming (NTS), the regional aquatic body that has been shaping swimming talent since 1929, recently shared a video that melted hearts across the country. In it, a much-loved pup named Brinjal confidently splashes his way through the Tshwane Mayoral Gala, completely unfazed by the cheers, whistles and waves around him.
And just like that… the old boy stole the entire show. As he does every year.
Of course, social media exploded with delight.
“This is absolutely amazing!!! well done Brinjal.”
“The best thing I have seen on FB all week. What a champion.”
“Wow those little short legs are moving, turbo must have kicked in.”
Brinjal, who swims under the flag of the Royal Fins Aquatic Club, is no stranger to the excitement. He’s been the official NTS swimming mascot at the Mayoral Gala since 2016, becoming as much a part of the annual tradition as the starting horn itself. He turns 13 in February 2026 but you wouldn’t guess it watching him glide down the pool with the same enthusiasm that first won the crowd’s hearts almost a decade ago.
His owner, Chris Luus, may hold the paperwork, but it’s his “mom”, Ancheri Luus, who cares for him day to day. And she speaks about him with the warmth of someone who truly understands the magic he brings.
“When Brinjal was younger, he used to swim between 20–30 laps in the 25-metre pool at Royal Fins Aquatics. He was fit as a fiddle. Now, as an older doggy, he only does about 10 laps every day,” Ancheri shared, her pride unmistakable.
And it is pride well placed. Brinjal has even won Gold medals at the Gala over the years, something most pups can only dream of. His popularity stretches far beyond Pretoria too, Ancheri told us that his videos have become so well-loved that an American website even wrote an article about him.
For NTS, whose role is to nurture swimmers from grassroots to elite level, Brinjal has become an unexpected ambassador for the pure joy of sport. He doesn’t chase times or rankings. He simply shows up, gives it his all and swims because it makes him happy. In a structured, competitive environment, he is a reminder of why so many young swimmers first fell in love with the water.
Brinjal only participates once a year at the Mayoral Gala, a moment his fans eagerly await. And even though he’s a senior pup now, his spirit feels as bright as the day he first paddled across the pool.
As we look ahead to next year’s Gala, one thing feels certain: whatever Brinjal does, he’ll make us all smile again.
by 