Thomas Forbes

Tell us about your earliest swimming memory.

My earliest swimming memory was back in 2016 when I swam at the Annual Aqua Bear gala in Port Elizabeth. I was swimming the 400m freestyle and I had swam fast enough to achieve my first ever Junior National qualifying time. I was so happy, and my coaches were too. That is a memory that I will never forget.

Why is swimming such a special sport for you?

Swimming is such a special sport because when you enter the water you are all alone. All your problems just disappear in the ripples and waves of the water. The silence under the water is so calming and I can just let my mind go blank and focus on what I am doing then and there. It is also where I can test the limits of my body and push past them to achieve what I want to. That’s why I love the sport.

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

My proudest achievement was last year when I swam the 400m freestyle and my last Junior Nationals. I had swam an amazing time of 4:08:65 and won the race. I had improved my time and had gotten so close to qualifying for Junior Worlds. What I am most proud of is that during that race, my mind was the clearest it had ever been. I focused on my race and executed it perfectly. I found the limits of my body in that race and had gone way past them to achieve such an incredible result. That is the race I am most proud of now.

How do you stay motivated throughout the season?

What keeps me motivated throughout a season is the people that I surround myself with, in and out of the pool. I have formed some amazing friendships and bonds with other swimmers in my club and in other clubs that will never be broken. We push each other to be better versions of ourselves every day. When we race the friendship and support doesn’t disappear. Being around people that understand what it takes to achieve the highest in this sport and is willing to do and achieve it with you is very motivating. The bonds that I have formed with my coaches are one of the key reasons why I keep going every day. I am always willing to try and do what they ask to achieve my goals because they know what they are doing and I believe in their system. It takes a lot of effort to stay motivated in this sport, especially when you take a dip and don’t improve your times frequently, but you must stay strong and believe in your coaches and know that they and your team mates always have your back.

What are your goals for the year ahead?

My goal for 2022 is to swim new personal bests in my main races. I want to go faster and achieve qualifying times for Junior Worlds. I also want to be chosen to compete for the RSA team this year. I want to stay a member of the Speedo family - I love speedo and what they do for this sport.

What do you do to prepare for a race?

I love to listen to music before my races. I sit somewhere with my music in my ears and close my eyes and visualise my race and what I must do in the race to achieve the best time.

Apart from swimming, what do you do for fun?

Apart from swimming, I love to spend time with my family and friends. I enjoy being around others and doing something other than swimming. I like to watch Formula One with my friends and family on the weekends. I also love collecting and building Lego in my spare time.

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

I am excited to be a part of the Speedo family because they are just an incredible brand. They do so much for this sport and support everyone around the world. They are also a well-known team and they have state-of-the-art equipment which is highly reliable and liked by many. I’m excited to be part of this amazing family and work hard to make Team Speedo the best in the world.