Natasha Igama: A young competitive swimmer
-A A +ASaturday, September 22, 2012
GONE are the days when most children were seen playing in the streets or playgrounds, being active during their free time, or mastering a new sport. Whether we like it or not, the days of modern technology are here and most waking hours or free time of our kids are spent in front of the computer screens and their hands tied to cellphones.
Natasha Igama is a 12-year-old young girl who values her free time and spends it well by training in her new found sport - swimming.
Tasha, as her close friends and family call her, has chosen to have a physically active lifestyle and is making a name at a very young age.
She started swimming in 2011 and joined her first competition only a month after her Learn To Swim Program. To this day, she competes for the Baguio Penguins Team.
This young lady swimmer won one bronze and one silver during the December 2011 City Meet (Palarong Pang Lungsod), 1 gold and 1 silver in the recent Caraa (Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association), 19th Place Elementary Girls Division during the Palarong Pambansa in May 2012, 3 golds during the DPS Motivational Swim Meet in June 2012, and 2 silvers at the Mayor Calixto and Congressman Rubiano Swimming Championship.
Tasha shares, “I love the feel of the water and how I get to meet new friends during competitions like how I met Jillian Robredo, the daughter of the late Sec. Jesse Robredo. I also enjoy competing internationally and locally because it gives me a chance to go and see other places.”
As a Grade 6 student in Small World Christian School Foundation balancing her time for studying and training is not so hard for her. The young Igama makes sure that her studies come first.
Natasha’s parents, Stephanie and Dr. Jay Igama, have been giving her enough inspiration to do well in every competition. Both are working in the hospital and despite their busy schedules, they make sure to always be there for her. Giving her the motivation she needs, showing interest in her sport and making sure that she still has fun doing what she loves to do are their top priorities now.
As Natasha Igama continues to show amazing splashes in every competition she joins, this active girl inspires many young athletes to reach out for their dreams. Nana Arellano Aoyong
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on September 22, 2012.
Sports
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