Olympic dream getting closer for swimming siblings
Representing one’s country on the world’s biggest stage is undoubtedly every athlete’s dream.
It is the dream of donning your nation’s colours, singing the national anthem, and hearing the roar of fervent supporters while goosebumps gallop all over your body.
To aim for the top, it takes talent, relentless dedication, sacrifices, sweat, and tears invested.
That goal is, however, sometimes realised by those who dare to dream, and a duo that is certainly dreaming of those moments is Jessica and Cameron Thompson, from St Stithians College.
They have taken swimming in South Africa, and particularly in Gauteng, by storm. Aged 16 and 18 respectively, the two have set their eyes on representing South Africa at the Olympic Games in the near future.
In December, they wiped the floor with their opponents at the Central Gauteng Aquatics Championships, walking away with a mammoth total of 22 medals combined in their individual and relay events.
There was reward for their efforts. Firstly, Cameron was selected to represent South Africa at the Vladimir Salnikov Cup in Russia. There, he broke his personal best in the 50-metre freestyle, and 50- and 100-metre butterfly events.
His sister, Jessica, meanwhile, battled it out at the World Trials in KwaZulu-Natal, alongside the likes of SA swimming star, Erin Gallagher.
The 16-year-old held her own, demonstrating her grit and excellence with a second-place finish in the 50- and 100-metre butterfly events. She also added a fifth place in the 100-metre backstroke, competing against the best swimmers in South Africa in the open age category.
“As a mother, it’s been quite an experience to ensure they both lead balanced lives, follow good eating habits, as well as their ultimate dreams,” their mother, Liesel Thompson, told SuperSport Schools.
“Teenagers these days can often be led astray and focus on the wrong things. I’m so blessed that both acknowledge God in their plan and achievements and understand that it’s only by his grace that they will succeed.”
International exposure
The success of the two in December was just the tip of the iceberg, in what has been an interesting and rewarding career for the siblings in the pool.
Before the Aquatics Championships, both had represented South Africa at various international events. Jessica got her first taste of international swimming at the age of 15 when she attended the 8th FINA World Junior Championships in Peru.
A year later, she made history at the Commonwealth Youth Games by twice breaking the South African record of Erin Gallagher in the heats and final to claim a 50m butterfly gold medal for South Africa. That was SA’s only gold medal in the pool.
A couple of months later, Jess was back in action at the 5th annual BRICS Games, where she continued her prolific form.
She took home four silver medals – in the 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke, 4x50m freestyle relay and 4x100m freestyle relay – and a bronze in the 50m backstroke.
Jess also swam in the 9th World Aquatics Junior Championships in September, where she was the youngest competitor in the 50-metre butterfly and backstroke.
Despite achieving so much at a young age, Jessica is adamant about improving in the pool and reaching greater heights in 2024.
“I’m looking forward to the upcoming challenges of this year and what’s in store for me,” she told SuperSport Schools.
“My immediate focus is the SA National Juniors and SA Senior Nationals in April. The SA Short Course Champs later this year will be a qualifying gala for World Aquatics Short Course Champs held in Budapest in December.
“So, there’s very exciting times ahead,” she concluded.
Cameron, on the other hand, will set his eyes on shifting his career into a higher gear, after completing matric last year.
The 18-year-old told SuperSport Schools that he’s gunning for a scholarship to further his studies at a Division One, United States college. He hopes to also swim in NCAA competitions and is considering mechanical engineering as a career path.
During his school career, the lanky swimmer also put his family’s and the school’s name on the map. In 2022, he took part in the Region V games in Malawi before participating in the Swimming World Cup, and the Salnikov Cup in Russia.
To top it off, he competed in the South African Short Course Championships, which were held in Cape Town in August 2023, and he made the A final (top eight) in all of his events. He took home three bronze medals for his efforts in the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle.
It was a demanding year. Apart from the time he devoted to his success in the pool, Cameron also had to focus on his academics, and a leadership role at Saints.
He was selected as a prefect, Head of Academics, and Swimming Captain in his matric year. He also prides himself on and is passionate about mathematics. Competing in the 2023 South African Mathematics Olympiad, he finished in the top 100 out of 80 000 participants.
“Swimming has allowed me to meet amazing people and to travel to exotic destinations,” he said, adding that his family’s support had enable him to stay focussed on the sport.
“My Dad also took up swimming and became a South African masters’ national champion, and my mother entered a masters’ gala, and it’s a sure-fire way to ensure that your parents don’t advise you,” he said, tongue-in-cheek.
“Once they experience the challenges and nerves, they back off and appreciate what it takes, and I’m truly blessed to be a part of this broader community.”
The Thompson duo certainly made history at St Stithians and will go down as the best swimmers the school has ever produced, an assertion that is backed up by one of their coaches, Brandon Hattingh.
Hattingh, who coaches the siblings at Aqua Athlete, based in Helderfontein, has described the two as hardworking and dedicated.
“To be a part of Jessica’s and Cameron’s success has been incredible, so far,” he said.
“Jess is one of the hardest-working swimmers I have had the privilege to train. She is meticulous in perfecting her technique and is constantly challenging herself with new ideas.
“I’ve been working with Cameron for less than a year. However, this young man has been incredible.
“He works just as hard as Jess does, and I can see that he is only scratching the surface of his potential and is a very dedicated swimmer, who has a bright future ahead of him.
“I see us as a team, and these siblings work incredibly well together. It has brought them closer together and I am very proud to be their coach.”
