Danyal

Danyal’s swimming journey started around the age of two years old, in 2003, and funnily enough, it was right here, when Stars Swimming School opened down the road from home.

When Vivienne Kalan opened the doors to the public he and his Dad were some of the first swimmers signed up for lessons.

Danyal’s father first learned to swim at the same time when he learnt to swim, and from that day his love for the water was born.

After leaving Stars Swimming School as a proficient, competent and relatively strong swimmer he moved to a swimming club called Vineyard.
At Vineyard his swimming went from strength to strength and at the age of ten years old he swam his first 1 kilometre open-water race.

He’s been swimming competitively since the age of nine, here in the squad at Stars Swimming, and frequented galas into his mid teen-years.

At high school, thanks to his strong swimming background, he played water polo, representing the 1st team from as early as Grade 9.

After high school, and into university, he picked up a love for the triathlon sports, namely swimming, cycling and running, and took part in a good few triathlons all around the Western Cape.

Now in his early twenties, Danyal frequents more casual distance swimming, such as the Hot Chocolate Mile swim, every Sunday morning at Camps Bay beach, or the Clifton Mile on the first Sunday or every month.

His goal for the immediate future is to do the Robben Island crossing, also known as the Freedom Swim.