Against The Tide

Ryle De Morny is the fastest man on sand. Just as he’s developed a competitive edge on this shifting surface, he’s also found new ways to deal with life’s ups and downs.

- Megan Flemmit

Ryle De Morny learnt the value of perseverance when he was just eight years old. After witnessing lifeguards tackle the ocean’s terrifying waves, the youngster felt emboldened to try it, too. While he was enthusiastic, it still took him two years to pass the test. “I failed many times,” he explains. “As a young kid, I was intimidated by the ocean.” But he didn’t let that fear hold him back. Eventually Ryle passed, learning more than just how to swim, but also gaining an understanding that anything is possible if you keep pushing.

Through the years, Ryle graduated from nipper to a junior lifeguard to finally, working as a senior lifeguard when he turned 18. He learnt first aid, CPR and various rescue techniques. With age, he began to master these skills, honing techniques through practice and practical alike. On the job, he also found a new family in the other club members. “Lifeguards are some of the most unselfish people I know,” he says. “The family is selfless; they put everyone else before themselves. It was such a humbling experience for me to learn and understand.”

Beyond saving lives, Ryle fell in love with the lifesaving sport. It was challenging, but also rewarding. In 2008 he represented South Africa in the World Championships for the first time. It’s a biennial event that tests lifeguards across a range of lifesaving skills – from sprinting in the sand to board rescues to surf ski races. He took home silver in the Beach Sprints and bronze in the Beach Flag Sprints – a massive achievement for someone so young. The medals sparked his desire to accomplish more. Ryle wanted to win gold in both events: “I told myself I needed to work harder. [But] it was difficult because there weren’t a lot of real coaches and specialists,” he says. So, instead, he started chatting to other competitors and taught himself as much as possible.