Today in exactly two weeks time I will be competing in the World Games 2009 Championships. As the competition time approaches, I can’t help getting excited and remembering that this is why I do what I do!

One of the best parts of being an athlete is getting to travel the world, and this time is no exception as I get ready to fly to the land known asTaiwan and embrace its culture, verve and extreme heat! The other thing I love about competition time is that I get to completely ease off in my training, cutting down both the distance and time by half…

There’s no doubt in my mind that being an athlete has its drawbacks, but as I pack my bags and count down the days I can also say without a doubt that these are far outweighed by the paybacks!

Stay strong and don’t give in… Coming from me, it’s definitely worth it!

Bon Voyage!
Jade

The second set of nationals was the South African Freshwater Championships, also held in Durban this April was an amazing turn in my life. I had an amazing competition, swimming personal best times in all my best races and finally felt comfortable and strong in the water again.

What made this even more significant was what I had gone through to reach this point and how much more I appreciated it because of this. Having a good comp and being selected into the national team was a great way to end the season and left me feeling positive and motivated for the months to come!

It also happened to be my 22nd birthday on the 22nd of April and I got very spoilt with 22 presents to match my crown birthday. I was adamant that since you only have one of these it had to be extra special, and luckily my family and friends were willing to indulge me!

Once again they have been the biggest rocks in my foundation and all the support I will ever need, I could never ask for more love and support and I wouldn’t change a single one of them for anything! I don’t ever thank them enough so I’ll take this chance seen as I have it… they know who they are and I can only hope they know how much they mean to me!

Everyone needs support and I am so lucky to have an amazing bunch of people behind me all the way. I hope that you are reaching and achieving your goals.

Love, Jade

The life of any athlete (please note that if you have a body you are automatically classified as an athlete) has its major ups and downs. These past three months had some serious downs for me.

As a lifesaver, I participate in both freshwater (pool and dam) and surf (beach) competitions. My first set of nationals this year was the South African Surf Lifesaving Championships held in Durban this March. I can’t remember one thing going my way throughout the entire comp. I missed waves, had bad starts and finishes, felt uncomfortable in the water and just couldn’t perform to the standards I know I am capable of!

My results were dismal and I left feeling completely dejected and unconfident in myself as an athlete and myself as a person. My sport is a huge part of my life and goes hand in hand with every other aspect that makes me who I am. Having such a bad comp really left me in a bad place and it took much evaluation, reflection and inspiration to get me motivated and positive again.

As athletes it’s assumed that we can pick ourselves up and keep going, and in most instances that’s true because it’s part of what we do and comes hand-in-hand with winning and good performance. Sometimes however, we reach a point where it takes a little more than usual and takes a little longer than usual to get ourselves out of the dumps and back in the game. That’s what this was for me.

Looking back, I can see the benefits that this brought me - I had to change my training and as a result started training harder, I had to change my thinking and as a result started thinking more positively, and I also had to change my attitude and as a result put in more effort and hard work than I had before.

The simple truth is that it’s never nice to lose. But I feel that without experiencing a shock to the system every now and again, you lose sight of what that feeling even is and why winning is so incredibly worth it! Losing gave me the chance to re-evaluate why I do what I do and allowed me to realise how much I want to do what I do well again!

So don’t be afraid to lose, it shows us a new path and makes us stronger individuals.

Love, Jade

The temperature outside is below 15 degrees and I’m lying in my bed with my warmest PJ’s on, under both a duvet AND my favourite blanket. To put it mildly I am freezing and already so over winter that I wish I could transport myself to another (preferably tropical) country!

It’s now 10pm and it’s been another typical day in the life of Jade Antunes, namely training, university, more training and more university. I am currently in preparation mode for World Games 2009, taking place in Taiwan this coming July. World Games is seen as the “B” Olympics, for all the sports that do not take place at the Olympic Games themselves. Lifesaving is just one of the sporting disciplines and we will be travelling as Team South Africa with sports such as Rugby 7’s, Wake-boarding, Sumo Wrestling and many others.

This is just one development in my life since my last blog, but it’s been 3 long months of ups, downs and many, many in-betweens! But I have overcome every challenge and gave it my all.

Wishing you a STRONG day, so you can overcome your own challenges and make the best out of today!

Love, Jade

I can’t believe that we are already ¼ ways through the year! I know the saying goes “time flies when you’re having fun” but I think it just flies by in general! And what a year it’s already been! Mine started off with the great news that I had won the Nike woman competition, and as a result I get to share my life with all of you for the next year.

At the moment I am currently in training for SA Lifesaving Nationals that are coming up later this month and at the end of April. These nationals end the racing season but also act as trials for selection into the SA team for upcoming international competitions. I find this time of year the busiest and craziest of all and between training and varsity my friends start to forget what I look like and my family tends to avoid me and my more regular grumpy moods!

The season has been a little disappointing so far, with two of my biggest competitions being cancelled due to poor surf conditions! I guess that’s the name of the game though, especially when the sport you love takes place outdoors… as a result, I’m itching to race at the end of this month and holding thumbs that the weather plays nice!

At the moment I’m currently in heavy training. This means doubling up of sessions and an average of 8-10 sessions per week! My current focus is to keep up my swimming, as this is the base for all my events in the pool or surf. An average swim set at the moment lasts 1 ½ hours and averages 4-5 km’s. Aside from that I do some strength training and add in an occasional run.

Other than training, I’m spending most of my time at varsity. I’m currently in a practical learning block within a Cape Town community and I work with treating groups of people everyday. It’s really interesting to learn different life perspectives from such a wide range of people, and I love being in practice rather than just in lectures. Doing what I love whilst helping others helps keep me inspired!

I know that now is the time when I often need the most support and motivation to keep at it and not let myself down by taking the easy way out… for me it really helps having a great support system in place. I also have a saying for when things get tough (if you’ve seen Finding Nemo, then you’ll know mine, it goes, “just keep swimming, just keep swimming…”) it’s just something light that makes me smile and happens to hit the mark spot on! Otherwise a beautiful sunset, an hour with a good book, a drink with friends… all bring a smile to my face, and a moment of calm!

I think what I’m trying to say is that, if like me there are times when you find the time running out, the list only half done, and your battery already half empty (because as athletes it would be unrealistic not to!) then hang in there and keep at it – it’s always worth in the long run!

Until next time, much love and strength!
Jade

My love for water sport started before I even knew how to swim, but my career in sport took off when I was 12 years old, with my debut as a South African junior swimmer. From that point onwards my passion for this sport has continued to grow. Nine years down the line and I am still a South African athlete, with the only difference being my move from swimmer to lifesaver. Changing my discipline a few years back has not changed the love and passion that I initially felt for sport, if anything it has only made it stronger.

I have been so lucky to represent South Africa since the age of 12 and for all the opportunities this has given me. I could fill a book with all the stories and memories that I have collected throughout the years! I have been able to travel all over the world (which I might not otherwise have done), I constantly meet new friends and I have created enough memories to last me a lifetime (not that I see it ending anytime soon!). I am so glad that I am where I am today and value every step that helped me get here-I wouldn’t change anything in my life!

Being an athlete, training comes naturally! People always ask me how I keep it up, and although I don’t have a clear cut answer I try explain how it makes me feel… I never would have thought that diving into the water, feeling it against my every pore, and being able to glide, move and cut through it, would be such an empowering feeling! I love training and this along with the rare but special feeling that being an athlete brings - feeling like I can conquer the world - helps get me through all the rest!

I am currently in my final year at UCT, studying Occupational Therapy. I really love working with people and helping them change their lives for the better, so studying in this field was a sure bet for me. I want to work with children, and help them so that they might have the same opportunities I have had. If anything, varsity has helped me become a pro at time management! Although it takes a bit of compromise from each side, I somehow manage to fit everything I need to into each day.

My family and friends are true gifts in my life. They put up with so much and are always there, supporting and encouraging me when the going gets tough! Having people I can rely on and trust makes the long road ahead much easier to travel and the journey that much more worthwhile!

I try to surround myself with activities that I enjoy because that’s what makes life worth it! I believe that nothing can be considered hard work if you love doing it, and I really love what I do! My studies, sport and personal life are all important to me, and I love them all too much to drop one for the other, so making time and balancing my life is just something I see as normal.

Never give up on your dreams and always remember that each day is a gift that needs to be lived!

Wishing you all a strong day.
Love, Jade.