Local lifesavers are making their mark internationally – and this includes three Cape Town Jewish youngsters who have recently been selected to participate in international lifesaving events. They succeeded in showing just what Capetonian sea-lovers are capable of!
Both Zack Waters, a matric learner at Rondebosch Boys’ High School, and St Cyprian’s School Grade 10, Rebecca Fury, took part in the 2023 International Surf Rescue Challenge (ISRC), held in late September in Texas, USA.
Rebecca and Chloe Gershuny, a matriculant also at St Cyprian’s School, took part in the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championship in Canada during September.
While Zack, who was selected for the Youth Men’s team, won a number of titles, both Rebecca and Chloe’s excellent efforts also brought huge successes. For Rebecca, that means being named the top point scorer for the South African President’s team, as well as the top point scorer overall for the President’s teams across all the other countries participating. Chloe achieved the second highest overall point score in the South African President’s team, and she placed 8th in the women’s development teams. She won bronze medals for the obstacle relay, medley relay and manikin relay events.
15-year-old Rebecca is both a competitive swimmer and a pool and surf lifesaver. For her swimming, she trains at Vineyard Swimming Club, as does Chloe; her surf lifesaving excellence is honed at the Clifton Surf Lifesaving Club, of which both Zack and Chloe are also members.
Zack won multiple events such as Team Surf Swim, Tube Rescue, Board Rescue, and Beach Relay. At individual level, he placed 2nd in Test 1 Ironman and 2nd in Test 2 & 3 surf swim.
For Rebecca, competition at this level has brought numerous successes. She explains: “My main events were the surf swim events and I won my individual surf swims in all three tests, together with the tube rescue event where I performed the role of the rescue swimmer. I was also a member of the surf swim relay team and swam the swim legs in the Taplin relay (which is a relay comprising a swimmer, runner, malibu boarder and surf skier), and our team won all those relays in all three tests. Our sprint relay team (of which I was a member) also won gold in test 1 and silver in tests 2 and 3.”
Chloe comments that, “I made memories to last a lifetime and competing on an international stage is something that has changed my perspective on sport, and has reminded me what an honour it is to be able to represent our amazing country.”
• Published in the November 2023 issue – Click here to start reading.
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