Teenager makes waves – The Fiji Times

Rising swimmer Grace Khelan is a force to be reckoned with in the waters and has the potential to progress in the sport of swimming.

The 12-year-old turned heads at the 2024 National Long Course Age Group Championships this weekend at the Damodar Aquatic Center where she competed in 18 events.

Out of the 18 events, she won 14 gold medals after the first day of the two-day competition in Laucala Bay.

It was not just one day's feat, but the reward for years of hard work since he took up the sport at the age of seven.

Khelan, who attends a private school called The Learning Centre, remained humble in the face of victory, knowing she is a champion in the making.

“I started competing at the age of 10 at Babale Swim club before joining Orca Swim Club two years ago. From there I was able to learn, get new personal bests and set new records,” she said.

His love for sports is purely invented by his love for water.

“I really enjoyed going in the water so from my first try I was really determined. I also heard a lot of drowning cases, which really pushed me to take swimming seriously.

While Khelan viewed swimming as an enjoyable life skill, her parents recognized that it was a talent worth developing and investing in.

“Grace has been in the water since she was seven years old. She was part of the Babale Swim club where she learned the basics, she later attended the international school and that's when we discovered she had talent in her,” explained her mother Serena Legacy.

It wasn't just her parents who saw her potential, with current Orca club coach Esther Malani already eyeing the young winner.

“Ms. Malani, the coach of the Orca club, invested her time in her swimmers and in the first season, Grace managed to break a record set at the age of 10. The record was set in 2019 and she beat in 2022,” Heritage added.

Khelan demonstrated both talent and passion, challenging not only herself but also those around her.

“She broke a record in school meets and now she has competed in 16 individual events and two relays, she has won 14 gold medals alone so for me that can be a swimming record for Fiji.

“I tried to limit her events, but she challenged me as a coach, and I love that, her commitment is amazing,” Coach Malani shared.

The young person has set short and long term goals.

“I want to break more records, set new personal bests and improve my technique. My goal is to qualify for the Pacific School Games in Australia,” Khelan said.

Her mother, Sereana Heritage, believes her daughter can go as far as the Olympics.

“When she was nine years old, her dream was to represent her country in the Olympics. Not just swimming, but also winning a medal for his country. That's how passionate she is about swimming, so again, we leave that in God's hands.

Khelan also thanked her parents for their unwavering support, from waking up early to work out to preparing ice baths, and for providing the strong foundation in which she balances her role a swimmer, a student and a girl.