Pool Rescue Gala: Where Athletes Become Lifesavers

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The Pool Rescue season opener at UWC was a reminder that in lifesaving sport, it’s not about winning but learning to stay calm in moments of chaos and act when every second counts.

Cape Town, South Africa (05 November 2025) – The University of the Western Cape made waves this past weekend as it hosted the first Pool Rescue gala of the summer season, and it was anything but your average swimming meet.

Sure, it’s fun to see who can power through the fastest freestyle or touch the wall first, but that’s not the main goal here. Pool Rescue is where those swimming skills meet real-life purpose. Every event, from racing with a manikin to navigating rescue obstacles, simulates situations that could save lives in emergencies.

“This isn’t just a sport, it’s a training ground for life,” said organisers. “Athletes learn focus, endurance, and teamwork. They learn how to stay calm and act under pressure. Those lessons save lives.”

More than 300 athletes from eight clubs took part, representing a mix of experience levels.

Pool Rescue stressed the importance of inclusivity, with the gender balance nearly even ( 55% male, 45% female), showing how fast-growing the sport is.

And while the stopwatch told part of the story, the real magic was in the mission behind it all. Pool Rescue teaches the discipline, teamwork, and composure that can one day save lives.

Some of the standout swimmers of the day included TUKS’ Ockert van Schalckwyk, who found himself in some thrilling head-to-heads with Clifton’s Wilan Basson and Matthew Brooker. In the women’s races, Mandeville Dolphins’ trio of Kendra du Toit, Grace Prince, and Layla Nixon showed incredible form, chased closely by Clifton’s Amica de Jager and Isabella Havemann.

Performance levels were sky-high too, with 145 personal bests recorded from 325 swims, and an impressive 132 qualifying standards achieved, including 41 Green Clocks and 87 Blue Clocks.