Minke Janse van Rensburg won silver in her breaststroke and broke a record while representing SA at 9th Down Syndrome World Swimming Championship in Canada
In June we shared the story of how Minke Janse van Rensburg would be representing South Africa at the Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships in Truro, Canada. Well, she is there at the moment and has just broken a swimming record in Africa!
Minke was one of nine swimmers selected by the South African Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired.
At age 13, she is the youngest competitor at the event and won silver in the 25-meter women’s butterfly race. She was beaten by 16-year-old Cleo Renou from France.
Both swimmers broke the world record and Janse van Rensburg’s time of 22,58 seconds earned her a new Down Syndrome Junior Africa record. She also won bronze in the 50-meter women’s freestyle, against a 29- and a 26-year old from Mexico.
Her swimming coach Sybeth Hughes said they had not expected her to achieve so much so soon in her career, referring to a recent national swim championship where she won four gold and two silver medals.
Minke’s father, Hennie Janse van Rensburg, says his daughter’s participation in sport has greatly improved her quality of life and hopes she can inspire other children with Down Syndrome.
In the video filmed by Art Hiebert below, you can see Minke celebrate her win with sheer joy and excitement.
by 