Sport saved me – Nasilowski

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

WINDHOEK



Retired Namibian Paralympic swimmer Gideon Nasilowski is encouraging youth not to give up on their sporting dreams, no matter the difficulties they may endure.

He said he believes his life would have been a total mess and a failure had it not been for sport.

The retired swimmer said he struggled with so many things in life, including alcoholism, but sport changed his life.

Known as the 'Namibian Amphibian', Nasilowski enjoyed a notable swimming career until his retirement in 2016.



Lack of support

“I know so well that it is hard to be a Paralympian in this country because the sport is not really getting the much-needed support. “It is, however, the dedication and the strong will to make it out there that can actually elevate you to become something in life.

“I would have become a nobody had I not chosen to do sport,” Nasilowski said.



Making things happen

The athlete urges young athletes who feel hopeless to make things happen for themselves, no matter how dark the journey ahead appears to be.

“I had to make things happen for me because it was the only way I would make it out there.

“I had to work eight hours before going to train and that was hard, but I just never gave up.

“It is for these reasons I encourage all the athletes out there to make things happen for themselves as no one else will,” the swimmer, who lists breaking the African record and representing Namibia at international competitions in 2015 as some of his greatest moments, said.