BACK IN THE SWIM

Gold medallist Roland Schoeman has returned to the pool and has his sights set on another Olympic Games

- MARELIZE GRBICH

HE WAS in the prime of his life when he took the podium in all his muscled magnificence at the 2004 Olympics.

Roland Schoeman and teammates Ryk Neethling, Lyndon Ferns and Darian Townsend became known as the Awesome Foursome when they won gold in the 4x100m swimming relay, setting a new world record in the process.

But that was nearly 20 years ago. In the past two decades Roland quit competitive swimming, moved to America and got a job as a real estate agent. He made a good living abroad – yet he always felt like a fish out of water.

Now at the age of 42, he’s come out of semi-retirement and is once again in the world of competitive swimming.

He’s the first to admit he’s not the young gun he used to be, but he isn’t bothered by going up against athletes half his age.

“People call me a veteran, but that just means I have more experience,” Roland tells YOU.

“Yes, I’m older than most swimmers, but I’m going to use my experience to my advantage.”

He hasn’t competed at the SA National Swimming Championships since 2016, but he decided to test the waters at the national event in Gqeberha in April.

He called his old teammate Darian, now head coach and CEO of the Phoenix Swim Club in the US, and asked him to help him prepare for the 50m and 100m freestyle and the 50m butterfly heats.

They started training together and within 14 weeks of hitting the water, Roland was swimming some of his best times since 2015.

However, it wasn't enough to keep up with all his competitors in Gqeberha.