South African swimming sensation Erin Gallagher has set her sights on reaching the finals at the upcoming World Aquatics Championships, which will kick off on Friday and run until 3 August in Singapore.
Swimming South Africa has named a squad of over 100 athletes and staff across swimming, diving, and water polo for the prestigious global event.
Gallagher will compete in three events — the 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, and 100m freestyle.
Speaking to SABC Sport, she expressed her excitement ahead of what will be her first major international competition since the Paris Olympic Games last year.
"I think this is going to be an interesting year of competition. I do think a lot of Nations have fast swimmers so the standard of swimming this year is set to be really high.
"I'm really excited to put myself out there in this highly competitive environment because it only brings out the best in me," said the enthusiastic Gallagher.
At 27, she is one of the most experienced members of the team, and with that comes the pressure to lead and deliver top performances.
She’s confident, however, that she’s ready to rise to the challenge.
With South Africa’s golden girl Tatjana Smith retiring after the Paris Olympic Games, the spotlight now shifts to Erin Gallagher and her fellow swimmers to step up. Gallagher says she’s determined to give her best and proudly represent the country, while paying tribute to her friend and role model, calling Smith a true legend of the sport.
"Tatjana has paved the way for all the promising swimmers in this country. Even though she is a very good friend of mine, Tatjana is also a role model to me.
"Our job now is to follow in her footsteps," emphasised Gallagher.
With multiple Olympic and Commonwealth Games appearances, along with her debut at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships, Erin Gallagher stands out as one of the most experienced athletes on the team.
Gallagher is guided by renowned coach Rocco Meiring at the University of Pretoria, whom she considers more of a father figure than just a coach.
"Working with Rocco is a dream come true. He's like a half-coach, half-dad to me. I believe that he has one of the most difficult jobs because four of his swimmers will be competing at the upcoming World Champs."
Issued on SABC Sport by Charles Baloyi | https://www.sabcsport.com/news/erin-gallagher-sets-her-sights-on-reaching-the-finals-at-the-upcoming-world-championships
