13-Year-Old South African Girl Becomes Record-Breaking Champ in Canada

A young teenage girl from George in South Africa has won hearts and broken records at the Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships in Canada.

Thirteen-year-old Minke Janse van Rensburg from the Southern Cape – who was the youngest competitor at the competition – broke both Africa and World records at the competition!

According to SABC News Western Cape, the young South African won silver in the 25-m women’s butterfly race in a time of 22.58 seconds. She – and the 16-year old French winner – both broke the world record with their times.

On top of that, Minke’s time is a new Down Syndrome Junior Africa record.

That wasn’t all. According to the George Herald, Minke also won silver in the 25-m freestyle race with a time of 17.68 seconds – setting new Down Syndrome Junior and Open Africa records.

The teen also clinched bronze in the 50-m women’s freestyle… racing against women in their late twenties, and setting new Junior World and Africa Down Syndrome records.

Making the most of every moment at the competition, Minke also won bronze and broke other Africa records in relays with her team.

The eighth World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships was held in Truro, Nova Scotia, between from 19 to 27 July.

Well done Minke! You’ve made South Africans very, very proud.

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