Eswatini teenagers Hayley Hoy and Chadd Ning will return from their school holidays as Olympians, National Flagbearers, and with a lifetime of memories from their summer in the French capital.
It has been a massive twenty-four hours for Eswatini swimmers Hayley Hoy and Chadd Ning who led their nation down the Seine last night, before turning in near career-best times on the opening day of competition at Paris La Defense Arena.
For sixteen year-old Hoy it was straight into the pool on the first day of racing, clocking a 1:08.44 in the Women’s 100m Butterfly in the first event and first heat of Paris 2024.
“We only got here two days ago, so I definitely could have used some more time to acclimatise and train in this pool,” Hoy told World Aquatics after her heat swim.
“We also went to opening ceremony last night and I was exhausted this morning, but it is an amazing experience honesty just to be here and swim for my country.”
Both Hoy and fellow teammate Chadd Ning were named as flagbearers for Eswatini in a lead up to the Olympic Games, and last night stood proudly at the front of their boat on the river Seine as they represented their small African nation of just over one million residents.
“It was absolutely amazing I don’t even know how to describe it,” said Hoy.
“It didn’t even seem real and I just kept saying to Chadd - we’re at an Olympic Games!”
Eighteen year old Ning shared a similar sentiment as the two teenagers soaked in a moment that very few highschoolers ever get to experience.
“Honestly it was worth going to, even though we lost a bit of sleep, because it was so amazing,” Ning told World Aquatics after the first morning of competition at Paris 2024.
“It didn't feel real, like floating down the river and seeing everybody, it was really, really cool.”
In this morning’s Men’s 100m Breaststroke Ning was the youngest swimmer in the field finishing in 35th with a 1:09.35.
“Considering we had a rough travel day and taper, to still compete closest to my best was the goal,” said Ning.
“I mean, we're at the Olympics, which is like everyone's main goal when it comes to the sport, so honestly, even if it was a little bit off where I wanted to be, I can’t be upset.”
“And I think this Olympics specifically for me is just kind of getting a taste for what it's like on the ‘pro scene’, and looking at the future towards LA 2028 I will be a much better swimmer and a lot more developed.”
Both Hoy and Ning have reached points in their swimming careers where they have now moved abroad to chase further success. Hoy is now training under esteemed coach Rocco Meiring at Tuks Swimming Club in South Africa, while Ning is completing his high schooling in Great Britain while based at the Plymouth Leander club.
“I’ve definitely seen a lot of improvement since I've moved to South Africa,” Hoy told World Aquatics
“It's been such an amazing experience to train with the biggest swimmers in South Africa, like Pieter Coetze, Tatjana Smith, and Erin Gallagher.”
“I’m in my last year of high school heading into university so I am hopefully looking for a collegiate program in the future to see where that can take me,” adds Ning.
“I really want to find a team that can push me, especially on the road to LA 2028.”