I have always had a love for the water. Swimming has been a big part of my family’s life. I was lucky enough to start my swimming career at the age of 2 when my mom took me for my first swimming lesson. I absolutely loved it and knew it was the sport for me. I continued to swim from that early age and it paid off with me breaking my first backstroke school record in Grade 1. At the age of 10, I swam my first Midmar mile in 30 minutes. I can remember standing at the start with my sister in our brand new costumes, bought especially for the occasion, watching the swimmers going off batch by batch. As it got closer to our start time, the nerves kicked in and I started to cry, I was such a tiny little thing amongst hundreds of older swimmers. All I remember was my sister telling me to “just swim” and that’s what I did until I reached the finish, happy to see my mom waiting for me with a big smile on her face. At high school, I continued to swim competitively for Parktown High School for Girls where I obtained my half colours in swimming.
Getting ready for my race at Hillcrest Primary School, 1991
I started dabbling in swimming teaching in 2003 when I was asked by one of my massage clients if I could teach her daughter to swim the strokes correctly so she could participate in her school galas. I did this part time for extra money while completing my final year of high school. As the word spread I started teaching more children to swim. In 2004 I started a mobile learn to swim service where I would pack all my swimming equipment in my car and drive around to peoples’ houses and teach their children to swim in their own pools. At the time I was studying to be a therapeutic aromatherapist and sports massage therapist. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would go into teaching swimming full time.
In 2006 I decided to get more serious and do the swim South Africa (SSA) learn to swim course (LTS). Since then I have had extensive exposure to numerous swim schools and I have experience teaching babies, toddlers, children and adults of all backgrounds including children with special needs and disabilities.
In 2014 I furthered my swimming education by completing my level 2, 3 and 4 coaching courses through the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) and attended the ASCA World clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. I would like to get more involved in competitive swimming.
Teaching people to swim has become my passion. I genuinely feel I have the best job in the world. Creating a happy swimmer is a gift that lasts a lifetime as well as an important life saving skill that I believe should never be neglected.
I became a swimming instructor by chance and that has turned into a life long commitment. When I qualified as a swimming instructor in 2006, my dream one day was to open a swim academy of my own. On that day I set a goal and promised myself that by the age of 35 I would have my own swim academy. I am now 31 and my dream of having my own swim academy, “SARAH'S SWIM ACADEMY” has come true. I am happy to be going into this new exciting venture with my sister, Candice. I am looking forward to many years of successful teaching.
One of the many midmar miles: 2006
L – R: Bevan Gibson-Taylor, Joanne Gibson-Taylor (Aquazone Swim Club https://aquazoneswimclub.wordpress.com)
Sarah Jonsson (Sarah’s Swim Academy) & Candice Williamson (Sarah’s Swim Academy)
