1. How did you first get interested in swimming and what inspired you to pursue it competitively?
Ironically, I hated the water. I wouldn’t put my head under water until I was 6 years old. I started swimming at the age of 8. I started swimming because my sister, Abigail Meder, started swimming. Like any little sister, I always wanted to do what my sister did. I used to get extremely bored sitting at the gym and watching my sister train. I wanted to swim too! I have always been a competitive person no matter what I am doing. I realized that I was doing very well in my training as well as in my racing and so I decided to pursue what I loved doing, competitively. I wanted to race!
2. What has been your proudest moment or greatest achievement in your swimming career so far?
My proudest moment in my swimming career would be representing South Africa at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. To be able to call myself an Olympian was always a dream of mine and to achieve it at such a young age was incredibly special and a big dream come true. I had spent 10 years working incredibly hard, making life changing decisions and big changes in my life to help me be able to pursue my dream completely. To have been able to achieve that dream was and forever be one of my proudest moments.
My greatest achievement in my swimming career would be placing 6th in the world in my 100IM at the World Short Course Swimming Champs held in Melbourne, Australia in December 2022, as well as, placing 4th in my 200IM at the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham in July 2022.
3. What do you think sets great swimmers apart from good swimmers?
I believe that having talent only gets you so far. It is the hard workers who excel. The people who are willing to go to places that others aren’t prepared to go to. The ones who show up and work hard ALL the time. It is the people who are disciplined and the ones who have integrity who excel and become great. I believe that one’s good character within sport also sets them apart from just being average. They are the ones who are competitive, yet kind, courageous and confident, yet respectful of their opposition. They are humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
4. How do you stay motivated and focused during training and competitions?
The support base and team I have backing me all the way keep me disciplined, focused and motivated. My faith in Jesus Christ is what keeps me grounded, calm and inspired to continue to work for my dreams and goals as I know that He is the One who is in control of everything and He has a plan for my life.
5. Can you describe a typical training day for you and how you balance it with other commitments?
I generally have 3 sessions a day. A morning swim, then a gym session and then another afternoon swim. In between all these sessions, I still study marketing online and I try and fit some recovery in, whether it be a short power nap, physio or foam rolling and stretching. Swimming has to take preference in my day as it is my career. So the balancing side of things gets based off of my swimming schedule. I fit things in and around all my sessions.
6. How do you prepare yourself mentally for a race, and do you have any pre-race rituals or routines?
On race day, I only listen to my Christian music, my worship music. I love connecting with God on race day. I wouldn’t call it a ritual or a routine, as I don’t believe that if I don’t do it, my race will go badly, but I do pray and put my armour on before every race. I put the armour of God mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-18 on. I prepare myself for the battle ahead.
7. What advice would you give to young swimmers who are just starting out in the sport?
Have fun through it all! You are going to face some tough trials ahead, but that is part of life. Choose joy and have fun in everything that you are doing. You need to love what you are doing. Don’t compare yourself to anybody else! Remember…...a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer!
8. How do you deal with setbacks and disappointments, and what have you learned from them?
I have learnt that setbacks and disappointments are going to be part of my journey. It is how I deal with them, overcome them and continue working hard through them, that will define the success of the journey. Like mentioned before, my faith keeps me grounded. I know that swimming does not define me and who I am, it is just what I do and what I love doing. I know that I am loved no matter the results. That doesn’t mean that I don’t get despondent and disappointed when things don’t go the way I wanted them to. I have learnt that it isn’t easy to face these setbacks and disappointments, but you just have to. I tell myself to keep showing up. I tell myself to keep working hard, keep pushing and keep believing. I believe that I cannot expect God to know how serious I am to be walking this journey if I am not prepared to show up to the battle.
9. What are your goals for the future in swimming, and how do you plan to achieve them?
I want to achieve on the international stage. I have had a bit of a taster at Commonwealth Games and as well as at World Short Course and I am now way hungrier than ever. I want to be able to go to as many international competitions as possible (Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Champs, Mare Nostrum, World Cup circuits, etc.). In order to achieve these goals, I will continue to SHOW UP to the battles, continue to train hard, continue to have integrity and be disciplined. I will continue to commit to do my best ALL THE TIME. I want to be one of the “great” swimmers of this world.
10. Outside of swimming, what are some of your hobbies and interests, and how do you balance them with your training and competition schedule?
I absolutely love wildlife and nature. I grow and collect different, beautiful orchids from all over the world in a greenhouse that I built from scratch. I also love my animals. My two Boston terrier dogs rule our house, and they fill my love tank every day. I also have many different reptiles at home. One of my favourite things to do is to go to the bush. I love the wildlife and I absolutely love birding. I sing on the worship team at church and I also enjoy building puzzles and doing some artwork. With swimming and all its required training, I really do have to set time aside to be able to do these things. My mind needs space to offload and unwind.
We are proud to have Rebecca Meder as part of our Elite Speedo Team. You can find out more about the rest of the team here.
To see more of Rebecca Meder, you can follow him on Instagram @beckymeder
Thank you to Wade J Brennan for providing the excellent photos.