Rising swimmer Grace Khelan is a force to be reckoned with in the waters and one that has the potential to go places in the sport of swimming.
The 12-year-old turned heads at the 2024 Long Course Age Group Nationals over the weekend at the Damodar Aquatic Centre where she took part in 18 events.
Of the 18 events, she won 14 gold medals after day one of the two-day competition in Laucala Bay.
This wasn’t just a one-day achievement but a reward of years of hardwork ever since taking up the sport at the tender age of seven.
Khelan who attends a private school called, The Learning Centre, remained humble in the face of victory knowing that she is a champion in the making.
“I started competing at the age of 10 at the 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.
Her love for the sport was purely coined from her love for the water.
“I really liked going to the water so from my first try I was really determined. I also heard a lot of drowning cases so that really pushed me to be serious about swimming.”
While Khelan saw swimming purely as an enjoyable life skill, her parents recognised that it was a talent worth developing and investing in.
“Grace has been in the water ever since she was seven. She was part of the Babale Swim club where she learned the basics, she attended International School then and that’s when we found out that she has the talent in her,” her mother Serena Heritage shared.
It wasn’t just her parents that saw her potential with present Orca club coach Esther Malani already eyeing the young winner.
“Mrs Malani the coach for Orca club was investing her time in her swimmers and on the first season Grace was able to break a record that was set as a 10-year-old. The record was set in 2019 and she broke it in 2022,” Heritage added.
Khelan displayed both talent and passion, challenging not just herself but those around her.
“She broke a record during the schools’ competition and now she did 16 individual events and two relays, she won 14 gold on her own so for me, this can be a swimming record for Fiji.
“I tried to limit her events, but she challenged me as a coach, and I like that, her commitment is incredible,” coach Malani shared.
The youngster has set short and long terms goals for herself.
“I want to break more records, set new personal best times and improve on my technique. I’m aiming to qualify for the Pacific School Games in Australia,” Khelan said.
Her mum Sereana Heritage believes her daughter can go as far as the Olympics.
“When she was nine her dream is to represent her country at the Olympics. Not just to swim but to medal for her country, that is how passionate she is about swimming so again we leave that in God’s hand.”
Khelan also acknowledged her parents for their endless support from waking up early for training to preparing ice baths and for being the solid foundation in which she finds the balance in being a swimmer, a student and being a daughter.
