What began as a spontaneous idea has grown into the Turtles, a team of moms making their mark in South African water polo.
Cape Town, South Africa (02 February 2026) – Watching their children play water polo every weekend, a group of Rondebosch moms never imagined they would one day dive into the pool themselves. But that’s exactly what happened when Kerry Van Niekerk and a few friends decided it was time to take on the challenge.
Kerry, who is a former varsity water polo player, has led the charge with a team now known as the Turtles.
“I played water polo when I was younger at school and at varsity. When my son started playing again, I thought, ‘Jeez, this is the best sport ever.’”
What started as a spontaneous idea among friends has grown into a movement of women making waves in South African water polo.
“I’d spend a year on the side of the pool, jumping up and down, just proud of him. Then I was chatting to an old friend, and we said, ‘How funny would it be if we jumped in the pool?’”
It all just expanded from there.
“We chatted to a few other moms, and by the end of last year, we just decided, ‘We’re doing this.’ We’re making a team. We’re getting cosies, matching caps. We just went all out.”
Today, the Turtles are 18 strong, practising twice a week and carving out their place in a sport largely dominated by men.
The team is preparing to compete at the Masters tournament in East London this March, marking the first time women’s teams have been included.
“It started as a bit of a joke, like, ‘Imagine if we went to Masters.’ The next thing we knew, we’re actually going. We’re all nervous, mildly terrified, but so excited.”
The Turtles also embody the balance of motherhood and sport.
“We’re all moms, so our kids always come first. But we’ve really started prioritising ourselves. This is our hour. It’s a safe space where we can be completely ourselves.”
Kerry shared that returning to team sports after university has been transformative. Being part of the Turtles has brought joy and a renewed sense of team spirit. She explained how the women support and celebrate each other, building connections that extend beyond the pool, creating a truly special and empowering environment.
It has also been about creating community and inspiring the next generation.
“Anything that shows young girls you can keep playing, keep competing, no matter your stage in life, that’s powerful.”
With their first Masters tournament on the horizon, the Turtles are ready to prove that women’s water polo is here to inspire and make its mark.
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