Canaan Mdletshe

Canaan Mdletshe

If you thought black people can't swim, think again.

This became evident when South African open-water Olympian Chad Ho, 17, held coaching clinics in Ntuzuma, north of Durban, yesterday.

Sixty pupils from the Daluxolo and Shayamoya junior primary schools in KwaMashu attended the second leg of the Final Arena Swimming World Cup road show.

The world cup will take place this weekend in Durban.

A Westville Boy's High School pupil, Ho might not have won a medal at the Olympics but his experience has been invaluable to young pupils.

Gcina Mbhele, a Grade 3 pupil from Daluxolo Primary, said he learnt a lot from the Olympian.

The 9-year-old said yesterday was his first day in a swimming pool - but it was definitely not his last.

"I learnt a lot about swimming and I will ask my mother if I can swim again," Mbhele said. "Being in such a big pool was scary but also fun,"

Ho said the most important thing about swimming was to love and enjoy it. He said it was important not be afraid of water.

Ho told the young swimmers: "To be a good swimmer you must eat healthy food, train hard and enjoy what you are doing.

"I train five hours a day, seven days a week.

"The drive to succeed comes from within oneself.

"If you believe you can conquer your fear and succeed then anything is possible."