South Africa’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kaylene Corbett is thankful as she is a finalist in the Emerging Athlete of the Year category for the 2022 Momentum gsport Awards.
The University of Pretoria student made headlines in Birmingham as she swam to a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke final, while her teammate Tatjana Schoenmaker claimed gold.
For Corbett, the medal embodied all the hard work and sacrifice over the years, which has now earned her recognition on the Momentum gsport Awards stage.
Speaking on being a finalist, Corbett says that she is honoured to be amongst outstanding women in sport who are paving the way for the next generation.
Speaking with Tlamelo Kganakga, Corbett takes us back as she talks about her love for sport growing up and reveals her greatest career ambition.
Kaylene, first up, congratulations on being shortlisted for the Emerging Athlete of the Year award at the 2022 Momentum gsport Awards! How does it feel to be a finalist?
It’s incredible just to be in the company of the women athletes who are involved at the awards this year. I’m so, so, so, grateful!!
What does this recognition mean to you and what do you think it will do for you going forward?
At the end of the day, it’s an honour being a part of this group of women! I feel like awards are just a small part of our journey as an athlete and that we should be proud of ourselves and our improvements even if that means that you don’t get recognition. You should celebrate the small victories as you celebrate the big ones.
Our theme for this year’s awards campaign is Power of Recognition. How important is the power of being recognised for you?
It is always lovely to be recognised for what you are doing, but it should never be the sole purpose to do what you are doing. If you are swimming to get recognised, then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. You should do it for the love of the sport, the love of being active and the experiences that come with it. If you then get recognised for doing something great it is only a bonus and it doesn’t define you.
Your performance on the international stage has played a major role in your inclusion for the awards this year as you won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham! Please explain to us the feeling of winning a medal, while representing South Africa.
Representing my country is always a huge honour. This medal embodies all the hard work and sacrifice that goes into years of pushing towards the top. It means a lot to me because I truly believe God has a plan with every race I swim and every placing I get. This medal means so much to me, yet it also just means that there is a lot more work to be done.
Let’s take it back a bit. When and where did your love for sport begin?
I have always loved sports and all kinds of sports growing up. I tried all different sports from mini-cricket to hockey, netball and cross-country running. I did it all! I cannot say that I was good at it, but I tried it all. My family is also very sporty from my parents to my aunts and uncles, we all love sport and we all used to watch sport all the time growing up. I love what sport stands for – that it is there for entertainment, it is there to unify nations and bring people together. I love that about sport.
What does a typical day look like in your life?
Well, it entails a lot of training, sometimes once to twice a day and then of course to put the energy back into my body it also includes a lot of eating. I sometimes have some sort of recovery whether that is spending time at oxygen treatment or getting a massage done and lastly, I always try get some work done to stay up to date with the university work.
What are some of the challenges you have faced along your journey so far and how have you managed to overcome them?
I think all athletes face a lot of challenges daily, whether its financial issues to try and support themselves, physical challenges to keep up with training or mental challenges to try and cope with the amount of pressure we are under.
To overcome challenges, it is good to reach out to family and friends and I do believe it means having a great bond between you and your coach to always let them know how you are feeling since all kinds of challenges can affect your training.
2019 was a very good year for you at the African Championships, winning gold medals. Please take us back to that time and how it was for you.
It is always a great feeling to do well with a lot of your teammates and to have hard work pay off. We were in Morocco and the whole team did so well. It is a great feeling to represent South Africa.
What are some of your career highlights?
I would say last year, the Olympic Games was a huge career highlight for me. Not necessarily my performance but just the whole experience and being in the 200m breaststroke final with Tatjana (Schoenmaker) was an honour. I also had such a blast at the same time.
What’s your advice to young girls who want to pursue a swimming career and how important is it for them to take care of themselves mentally, physically and emotionally?
I think it is evident that it has become more and more important for athletes to look after their mental health, as well as we look after our physical health. I really do believe a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer.
What are your views on the performance of the Team SA women swimmers’ overall performance at the Commonwealth Games?
What a time it was to be a part of the women’s swimming team at the Commonwealth Games! These women are so strong and resilient. We have been working so hard and to watch my friends reap the rewards in a whole bunch of personal best swims and medals is so inspiring. I really am so inspired by all my teammates.
What’s your greatest career ambition?
I would love to be able to show younger women that we as women are so much stronger when we support one another. I believe that swimming should stay in the pool and as soon as the race is over, you celebrate one another no matter the outcome. Women need to stand together.
Photo 1 Caption: South Africa’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kaylene Corbett is thankful as she is a finalist in the Emerging Athlete of the Year category for the 2022 Momentum gsport Awards. Photo: Supplied
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