Wayde's mom inspires
VISIT: Wayde van Niekerk’s mom, Odessa Swarts VISIT: Wayde van Niekerk’s mom, Odessa Swarts
Odessa Swarts returned to her alma mater to inspire the pupils of Scottsville High School to new heights as they prepare for the end of year examinations.
Odessa also received the starting blocks she used 26 years ago from her former coach, Cliffie Booysen.
Principal Henry Hockey said it was a huge honour to welcome the mother of 400m Olympic champion Wayde to their school.
“She has inspired her son to become a world champion. She is a super champ mother, just like Wayde,” he said to loud applause in the school hall.
Addressing the eager and excited young faces, a smiling Odessa said: “It’s an honour for me to back at the school I went to, to give you this testimony.
“I was as old as Kayla [her daughter], 14, when I started school here.
ATTENTIVE: Scottsville High
“No matter how tough life is, don’t give up on your dreams. Set your destiny yourself, and such, that your dream will never die, whether it is to become a good rugby or guitar player. If God can do it for me, He can do it for you,” she said to applause.
Presenting her with the starting blocks, Booysen said Odessa broke records in her heydey.
“She ran the 100m sprint in just 12.3 seconds, on grass. Like her son, she smashed many records and obtained her Western Province colours.”
Gert Wagenaar, who has been teaching at the school for 32 years, remembers Odessa well.
“She was the super suidooster (southeaster wind) on grass. She was very special,” he says.