From dominating the World Aquatic Championships to conquering the All-Africa Games in Accra, Ghana, Ronan Wantenaar is a force to reckon with in the world of swimming. At just 23, the Namibian sensation continues to make waves and inspire a nation. Recently New Era Sport caught up with the 23-year-old swimmer who shed light on his promising career. 

Q: Biggest influence on your career? 

A: My parents have a big influence on my career.

Q: How does being an athlete make you a better person? 

A: Being an athlete is a challenge. Through learning that, you start to appreciate other things in life other than just competing and winning. You appreciate little things like free time and off days. You soon realise that every person goes through hardship and faces their own challenges in life, so you become empathetic.

Q: Do you think attitude is a factor in winning? 

A: I believe attitude is a factor in winning, but it does not compare to mindset and consistency in sport.

Q: What should Namibia do to discover and nurture more talent like yourself? 

A: I believe Namibia needs to invest more in young and upcoming athletes. We as a country need to host more sport competitions. Also, increasing the frequency of clinics and workshops for coaches, athletes and support staff. Companies need to take the risk of funding athletes for local and international competitions. 

Equipment for each sport is also a major concern for the young athlete’s parents as there are so many talented athletes, but they cannot afford proper equipment, training costs and flights. They also do not have adequate training facilities, especially in rural areas, hence young talented athletes aren’t given the opportunity or do not pursue a career in sport any further. Numerous people I knew personally have stopped swimming right after high school because the sport does not provide a stable outlook for the future. 

The current state of the sport won’t pay for your housing, car, medical aid, insurance or daily necessities. Therefore, young athletes tend to opt to study to make provision for a stable future.

Q: Who or what inspired you to take up swimming? 

A: I liked swimming as a toddler, but I almost drowned once when I was about three years old, so my parents took me to a coach for swimming lessons.

Q: Did you have any swimmers in your family who influenced your journey? 

A: My sister and I swam together; however, I was the one who ended up continuing with the sport.

Q: At what age did you realise you wanted to pursue swimming seriously, and what motivated that decision? 

A: I was 11-years old during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and what made me decide to pursue swimming seriously was when Chad Le Clos from South Africa won gold in the 200m butterfly.

Q: Who are your role models in swimming or sports, and how have they shaped your approach to the sport? 

A: My role models would be Chad Le Clos and Dylan Carter. I have spoken to both, and they are really relaxed people, but very hardworking. That has always been my approach in the sport, work hard, but to not sweat the small stuff because life is already hard so why stress about everything?.

Q: Setting a national record and winning gold in Singapore must have been a proud moment. What does that victory mean to you, and how has it impacted your career? 

A: Winning that gold medal in Singapore and breaking the national record has helped me stay focused and work harder, as I was losing some motivation because I was struggling to improve my times before the end of the qualifying window for the Olympics. 

Winning isn’t always my goal; I always strive to improve myself in and outside the water. But as an athlete, you need to be a bit selfish to progress in a sport, otherwise people will consider you a pushover and someone who lacks confidence in your ability to compete. There will always be the victor and the vanquished, so which would you as an athlete rather be?

Q: You won a gold medal in Ghana this year. What significance does that achievement hold for you, and how did it reflect your growth as a swimmer? 

A: I was quite happy with winning gold in Ghana. It was one of my top achievements. Being from Namibia, I am still able to compete against countries such as South Africa, Algeria and Egypt, who dominate swimming in Africa, and I managed to win a gold medal. So, I see that my efforts from all these years are bearing fruit.

Q: What is your take on the current state of swimming in Namibia? What do you think should be done to ensure Namibia consistently sends swimmers to the Olympics?

 A: Namibia Swimming is still a long way from being able to send more swimmers more frequently to the Olympic Games. We have some passionate coaches and a federation that is doing its absolute best to send us to more major international competitions. We need more financial support to take us to these international competitions to gain crucial experience.

 In my career, my parents have funded most of my competition. We lack racing experience at international level. I believe we should follow the example of countries such as Australia, America, Great Britain and France, to name a few. These countries have dedicated teams to support the athletes, namely, coaches with salaries, physiotherapists, personal trainers, sport psychologists, dietitians along with sponsorships from large companies. These experts ensure that their athletes can train and recover optimally from training sessions, have a diet tailored to their needs, and can always compete in the right state of mind.

Q: What are your dreams as a swimmer, and where do you see yourself five years from now in your career? 

A: I would like to qualify for the next Olympics, and be a finalist at a World Aquatics Championship, possibly even be a medallist. For the next five years, I am going to do my best to achieve those goals.

Q: Apart from swimming, how do you spend your free time? And, how supportive have your parents and family been in your career? How has their support helped you achieve your goals? 

A: I mostly play games, read books, or watch Netflix. My parents have been my biggest supporters since day one, and I am very grateful for everything they have done for me up until now and even in the future. They have provided financial aid and were always willing to help when I needed new racing suits, team kits or equipment. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to reach my current level in the sport.

Q: What challenges do you face in ensuring you’re ready for major competitions, and how do you overcome them? 

A: Most challenges would be nerves before a race and staying healthy. 

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na