Twelve-year-old Jordan Heath, a Grade 6 learner from Summerwood Primary School in Nelson Mandela Bay, has achieved remarkable sporting success across three different disciplines within a six-week period recently.
Heath’s impressive collection of accolades includes a new South African Biathlon Record with gold medal, five SA Schools Swimming Championships medals (two gold, one silver and three bronze), and seven DHL SA Lifesaving Championship medals (four gold, one silver and two bronze). He was also awarded the prestigious DHL SA Pool Lifesaving Victor Ludorum for u/12 boys.
Among these achievements, two stand out for the young athlete, breaking the national u/13 Biathlon record by improving the existing mark from 2,122.5 points to 2,132.92 points, and receiving the u/12 Victor Ludorum at the DHL 2025 Pool Lifesaving Championships.
Heath attributed his success to a strong support network, including his dedicated parents Johan and Jana Heath, broader family, Summerwood Primary staff (particularly Brian Rowsell), coaches at Infinity Swimming Academy, Leonardo de Villiers’ Running Club, and Shaun Richter, President of EP Biathlon.
“Having the privilege of living in the Humewood area, with the sea on my doorstep and access to an abundance of sporting opportunities and events, has been a key factor in my development,” Heath remarked.
The young athlete’s passion for watersports began on the beaches of the Cayman Islands, where he was born in 2013. He draws inspiration from Caymanian swimmer, Jordan Crooks, who became the first swimmer to break the 20-second barrier in the 50m short course freestyle last year.
Heath’s sporting lineage runs deep. His father Johan, who serves as his mentor, represented South Africa in Lifesaving for the President’s Team that competed in Belgium in 1999, completed various local and international triathlons and Ironman events, and finished back-to-back Comrades Marathons in 2015-2016.
An interesting item on the younger Heath’s bucket list is to participate in the Family Event at the Midmar Mile, as his father, uncles and grandfather won this event 25 years ago.
Looking ahead, Heath aims to continue enjoying his sport whilst maintaining academic balance, learning from the best, and building upon his successes. Like many passionate young athletes, he dreams of representing South Africa at international level one day. Drawing inspiration from Walt Disney, Heath lives by the motto, “If you can dream it, you can do it!”
