Comeback kid Reid eyes his ticket to Tokyo Games
● Former PE star hits top form in US competition
Former Port Elizabeth swimmer Christopher Reid is aiming to get back to his best as he looks to gain a spot in the SA team for next year.
Reid, who is based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in the US, competed in the recent United States of America Swimming Winter Nationals, where he bagged two gold medals.
The 22-year-old came first in both the 100m backstroke, in a time of 53.95, and 200m individual medley (2:02.18), which will boost his preparations in trying to make the 2020 SA Olympic squad.
Speaking about his achievements, the 2016 Olympian said the Winter Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina, was his first race since April.
“I had no expectations going into the meet.
“I took a bit of a rest prior to the meet and this competition was a marker for me to see how my training has gone so far,” Reid said.
“I had travelled a lot the day before the competition, and on the first day, I swam exceptionally well and managed to win the 200m IM [individual medley] in a personal best time.
“The next day I swam the 100m backstroke, where I managed to beat a great swimmer in US Olympian Jacob Pebley,” Reid said.
That was incredibly fun, too, because the field was quite strong.
“I was able to go under 54 seconds in that race for the first time since the Rio Olympics, which was only a shade off my personal best in the event, so I’ll take it, that is progress from where I was,” the Alabama Crimson Tide swimmer said.
Reid said his main focus had been on himself, but also to honour God through his swimming and not focus on what those around him were doing.
“Before the Olympics, my mind was stuck on swimming and what I wanted to do, what I wanted to do for others and that resulted in a negative mindset, a negative lifestyle, because swimming was my life,” he said.
“However, heading into this meet, I was mainly focused on myself and honouring God through my swimming,
“All I was focused on was using my God-given talent and hope that whatever I do is enough,” he said.
Reid also won silver in the 200m backstroke in a time of 1:58.28, and was pleased with the result, given the fact he had not done much preparation ahead of the events.
“I finished up my NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association] swimming eligibility in May.
“That was the commencement of my four years’ swimming for the University of Alabama under scholarship.
“So on completion of that, I still have one semester of school left,” he said.
Reid said the results he achieved had been very rewarding in that he could see improvements to his technique and skill levels because of his training. Having been missing from the international swimming circuit for a couple of years, Reid hopes his training regimen and some regular competition will see him return to the international stage soon.
Reid will return to the country in April next year, where he will compete at the South African Nationals.
He will also be looking to qualify for the Fina World Championships later in the year.