Q&A with Wesley Wiehahn, swimming prodigy and new Blue70 brand ambassador
Q&A with Wesley Wiehahn, swimming prodigy and new Blue70 brand ambassador
If you are into open water swimming you must have heard of him before: for the past year, Wesley has competed at every open water swimming event in Dubai and won every single one. Originally from South Africa, based in Dubai, Wesley Wiehahn is the logical new addition to our team of Blue70 brand ambassadors.
Wesley, tell us about you, who are you?
Hello, I am 31 years young. I am from the windy city of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, famous for its beautiful beaches and a host city of the Ironman triathlon. I am working as a crew for Emirates Airline which allows me the opportunity to travel the world, but with enough time to stay fit & enjoy my passion for sport. I share the beautiful city of Dubai with my girlfriend, with whom I have just moved in with. She has been a great support structure in motivating me to pursue my sporting goals. No kids, yet hahaha.
How did your passion for swimming and triathlon start and which are your best results?
I have been into water sports since a very early age. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in swimming clubs, lifesaving clubs & sporting circles. I started swimming at a very early age, competing provincially & nationally in South Africa. During university, I set myself a goal of completing a full Ironman and at the age of 21, I did so. I then did a further 2 full Ironman South Africa in succession.
Some of my best results include podium finishes at the South African University swimming championships, open water swimming victories around South Africa & the United Arab Emirates, team wins at Ironman events, and of course, always exiting the water first in all 6 Ironman events I have done. Nothing beats the feeling of beating a pro 😉 hahaha
What is your current training regime, and what are you training for? Any specific goals for this year?
With my busy schedule of working for an airline, I try to fit in at least 3 pool sessions during the week, along with 2 ocean swims on the weekend. With the busy race schedule in Dubai, we’ve been racing most weekends too. The open water swimming season is coming to an end this week, with temperatures being too high to race outdoors. I am looking forward to a bit of indoor training and maintenance work over the next few months.
It has been a very successful season for me on my return to open water swimming, having won the majority of events in Dubai. I would like to race a few more events abroad this year, perhaps getting back into Ironman with the goal of competing at next year’s Ironman 70.3 Dubai. We’ve also just had the Oceanman event in Dubai, where I placed 2nd in the 10km race, my first time doing a race of such distance. I’d like to focus more on the 1 – 5km open water races & plan to race in June at the Oceanman in Greece.
Which coach and club do you train with?
I train with Paolo of Swim Smooth Dubai. He has a great coaching style. I enjoy his sessions and feel we make a great team. He has really been fundamental in me achieving all my accolades this season. We train Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday evenings, with an ocean swim on Friday, Saturday & Sunday mornings, depending on my schedule.
Who do you look up to in sport in general and in swimming/triathlon in particular?
I really look up to an individual by the name of Cristian Ciccioli. I had a break from swimming over the past 7 years, due to working abroad & not really having the motivation to pursue any form of competitive swimming. I bumped into Cristian on an 8km World Islands Dubai training swim a year & a half ago. From there, he has pushed me, motivated me & included me in all his training programs. If it were not for him, I wouldn’t have found my passion again for swimming. He’s also massively competitive & gives me that extra push I need to perform.
Which is your favorite competition you have ever taken part in? Which one are you dreaming of competing in?
I’ve really enjoyed the open water circuit in Dubai for the past year. Ironman South Africa also puts on a great show & it is always great to race in front of your home crowd. Oceanman Greece would have to be the next dream tour on my quest for racing abroad.
If you could start all over again and pick another sport to be passionate about, which one would it be and why?
I’d pick swimming over and over again. Nothing teaches you more dedication to a cause than swimming. It also allows for a fuller range of motion and fitness above all other sports. The qualities I’ve taken away from swimming have formed the base from which I run my life.
Which are your top 3 favorite places to swim in Dubai and why?
Burj Al Arab definitely wins this one! Nothing beats seeing the world’s only 7 star hotel from the corner of your goggles. La Mer Beach is great when you’re looking for an open water swim protected from the wind. The famous Kite Beach also allows for an epic swim, with a massively active presence of people in the early mornings. It’s great to see how many people are active in Dubai on any given morning down at Kite Beach.
We all want to swim faster and more efficiently. Give us one little tip that has always helped you improve.
Gym work. I wish I had known the benefits from an earlier age of being physically stronger in correlation to being physically fit. The two work hand in hand and I can’t stress the importance of weight training enough.
What do you think of the brand Blue70 and of the products you are using at the moment?
I’ve used Blue70 for years. When I raced back in South Africa on their open water circuit, it was the brand I used. The wetsuits are of a very high quality. They offer enough freedom in the shoulders and float around the mid-section. I’ve been using Blue70 now in Dubai and I’ve really enjoyed the swim shorts & open water goggles, namely the Hydra Vision.
Thank you, Wesley, for taking the time to answer our questions in between your move with your girlfriend and your flight to Indonesia. We look forward to seeing you again in the triathlon and open water swimming circuit. We are predicting many more victories, especially with the Blue70 products, and wishing you all the best in your personal life also.