Swimming siblings: Shayne and Dayna Kiekebosch have just returned from a successful stint at the New Zealand Short Course Championships.
University of Waikato swimmers Shayne and Dayna Kiekebosch have just returned from a successful series at the New Zealand Short Course Championships.
Both managed to set a number of personal bests in the pool, and each broke six Waikato records.
Breaking records
Shayne improved his personal best in the 200m breaststroke heats by a massive five seconds. In the Open Final he shaved off another 1.5 seconds, winning fifth place in New Zealand.
Among a number of personal bests he broke six Waikato men’s records.
His sister Dayna, who has been injured for two years, came back to swimming in January and also set a series of personal bests.
She swam a personal best in the 50m breaststroke, winning silver in the 17/18 age group 50m race as well as gold in the 100m and 200m, and got another silver in the Opens Final.
She also broke six Waikato records.
Olympic hopes
The duo have Olympic dreams, but say the next event is always the priority.
“The ultimate goal for both of us is the Olympics. But before that there’s the Commonwealth Games and before that there’s the next nationals,” says Dayna, who is in her first year of a social science and sport and leisure degree.
“We’re in the pool every day from quarter to six, and then there’s the gym work.”
The siblings swim for the Fairfield Swimming Club and spend about 18 hours a week in the pool.
“We’re both pretty competitive, driven and self-reliant,” says Shayne, who is a second year computer science student.
The New Zealand Short Course Championships were held in Wellington from 29 September to 4 October.