Petrus Truter

Tell us about your earliest swimming memory?

I remember when I was 7 years old – I was competing at this big competition, and I was swimming the 50m backstroke final. I started well, being in the lead; however, after a few metres of swimming, I stopped to look at my watch (to see what the time was) and restarted my course after. I still ended up winning the race, despite the time I lost as a result of my curious interest in my wristwatch. This memory reminds me of the silly things you get up to as a child, and I will always cherish them.

Why is swimming such a special sport for you?

I think swimming is a special sport because you have to commit to putting in many hours – in and outside of the pool – of training your body and mind to push yourself to the absolute limit. Swimming is a sport where your margin for error becomes smaller and smaller as you perform better at each gala, and that is what I think sets swimming apart from any other sport.

Which of your achievements are you the proudest of and why?

My proudest achievement thus far is hands down when I qualified for the Junior World Championships in the 200m Breaststroke. Going into the final I knew, deep down, that I could achieve something as extraordinary as that, and so I told myself, “It’s now or never.” To this day, this achievement has a special place in my heart and always will.

How do you stay motivated throughout the season?

My goals are what keep me motivated. I have a very strong imagination, so I always imagine myself achieving my goals. Sometimes even greater results than what I expect to achieve and picture how happy and satisfied I will be once I achieve them. The other thing that keeps me motivated is executing the small things well during my training sessions – such as turns, underwaters, initiating the catch – squeezing as much effort out of myself as I can.

What are your goals for the year ahead?

I would not only like to outperform my previous self with every chance I have but also try and achieve (qualifying) times that would allow me to represent my country at an international event.

In which events can we expect to see you take part?

I will be competing at Senior Nationals (6-11 April) and most probably choose to swim at SA Short Course later this year as well.

What do you do to prepare for a race?

I normally listen to worship music, just to calm myself down and to get my mind into that ‘lion’ mentality, before I go do what I do best. I also warm up my muscles and loosen my joints so that I’m physically (extra) ready for my race.

Apart from swimming, what do you do for fun?

Swimming and studies take up a lot of my time, but whenever I get the chance, a round of 18 holes at the Stellenbosch Golf Club with my dad always hits the spot. I love the game of golf. I believe it teaches you the same thing swimming does: patience, discipline and a lot of practice.

Why are you excited to be a part of the Speedo family?

What excites me the most is that I am getting to work with new people. The Speedo family isn’t called a family for no reason – I have experienced it myself; the people at Speedo have the kindest hearts and are always there to help you out with whatever you need. The support you receive from the Speedo team is just something different; it’s support and love.