INLSA

Pinetown sisters Jade, left and Kyla Tallis practise at Durbans Kings Park swimming pool. Picture: Shelley Kjonstad

Two Pinetown sisters are planning to take the swimming world by storm after they were both named as captains of their schools swimming teams.

Kyla Tallis, 16, and her sister Jade, 11, started receiving swimming lessons at the age of one.

Kyla, a matriculant at Westville Girls’ High, is set to receive the swimming captain’s badge during an assembly at school this week.

Last week, Kyla received the victrix ludorum award after a clean sweep at the school’s swimming gala.

“I was really happy to be the best overall swimmer at school. I was told last week that I would be the captain and I was excited,” she said.

Kyla has come a long way from getting swimming lessons as a toddler. She joined the Westville Swimming Club in Grade 5 and never looked back.

“I have done the Midmar Mile five times. Next week will be my sixth time. It is challenging, but I enjoy it.”

Kyla has, however, suspended all training for the club to focus on her matric studies. “I will continue swimming for the school though.

“There is some pressure to being captain because it means I have to watch what I do in public; otherwise it will reflect on the school.”

She added that she wanted to study marketing next year, and had recently started surfing.

For Jade, being the new Gordon Road Girls’ School swimming captain gives her something to add to her trophy haul.

Last year, she was the school’s junior victrix ludorum and has set her sights on winning it again at the school’s swimming gala on Wednesday.

“I will do my best and try to win, but there are a lot of good swimmers at school so it will not be easy.”

The Grade 7 pupil also enjoys playing netball and is hoping to start hockey this year.

She said she wanted to follow in her sister’s footsteps and join Westville Girls’ High as a pupil next year.

“My sister is captain there this year. But she will not be there next year and there will not be any pressure on me because I just try my best.”

Their mother, Heather Tallis, said she was happy for the girls, who had worked hard at their swimming. - The Mercury