Profile: Yana Connour

Profile: Nieka Marais
By Erin Johnston




With a long four years ahead of her, Nieka Marais is adjusting to the demands of sports, academics, and social life.




Nieka Marais is a swimmer who practices everyday to be her best. She balances her academics, health, and social life, all while becoming more decorated. In terms of swimming, being decorated means carrying many awards/medals as an individual. Being a part of a competitive sports team takes time, energy, and commitment. Since Marais is getting older, her activities are getting more competitive, and being in an environment and around people who are positive has become more important to her.

Before swimming, Marais used to be a ballet dancer.

“With dance, the people weren’t supportive enough,” said Marais, “as opposed to swimming, where the environment is very supportive, and that’s what drew me to it.”

With the positive comes the negative, and the one downside of a competitive swim team, according to Marais, is time.

“My life without swimming would look a lot different. I’d have a lot more freetime,” said Marais, laughing, “and I wouldn’t have to get up at 6 a.m. or earlier for practice.”

Swimming also has an impact on relationships.

“In the time I’ve participated on a competitive swim team, I’ve met many of the current friends I have,” said Marais, “they are all so supportive and would do anything for me.”

“The best aspect of being apart of a swim team would definitely be that everyone is super accepting,” said Marais. Along with relationships, it has also has an impact on your personal character.

“I’ve learned a lot about time management and how to more easily control simple things,” Marais said.

High school can be the place where professional athletes or even Olympians are discovered.

“I want to keep swimming as long as I can. If I’m not happy with it anymore, I’ll stop, because then there would be no purpose behind it,” Marais said. That’s why she “enjoys competitive swimming much more because it gives me a drive that swimming for fun wouldn’t.”