12/08/2026
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹: 𝗡𝘂𝗩𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸
It is a crisp winter morning at St Benedict’s College in Bedfordview. Around the pool, students, parents, coaches and officials are preparing for the swimming gala to begin. Among the sea of people is 14-year-old aspiring swimmer Conner Marnewick.
When I first meet Conner, he is standing inside one of the sports equipment booths, trying on a new pair of swimming shorts. These are no ordinary swimming shorts, but a specialised carbon racing suit designed to support competitive performance.
Standing alongside Conner’s mother, Eonè, I quickly learn that swimming equipment is far more complex than many people may realise. Every item requires careful consideration; from the cap and goggles to the racing suit and training equipment.
Competitive swimming is not an inexpensive pursuit, but having the correct equipment is an important part of giving an athlete the opportunity to perform at their best. For Conner, it is all part of pursuing a dream that began just over a year ago.
𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Conner only began swimming competitively in April 2025. His introduction to competition was refreshingly straightforward. His coach told him to jump into the water and give it a go, and he did. However, his connection to swimming began long before his first competitive race. “My dad, Justin, was a really good swimmer, and I wanted to take on those genes,” Conner explains.
His step-dad, Richard, has remained one of his greatest inspirations and supporters, encouraging him to pursue his ambitions without placing limitations on what he might achieve. “He tells me to go for it and chase my dream,” Conner says. That dream is swimming, and Conner is determined to see how far his talent, discipline and dedication can take him.
𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘁 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
Conner is polite, friendly and joyful, but when it comes to swimming, he is completely focused. What does he enjoy most about the sport?
“Just being in the water, pitching up to practice and trying to send it, honestly.”
Conner trains with MAKO Aquatics in Three Rivers, attending sessions from Monday to Thursday, with additional Friday sessions when required. Each training session lasts between an hour and a half and two hours.
Of all the strokes and exercises he practises, butterfly remains the most physically demanding. His favourite stroke, however, is breaststroke, the event in which he achieved his first Level 3 qualifying time, at just 1:30.77 minutes in the 100-metre breaststroke.
It remains one of the achievements of which he is most proud.
“It was the only Level 3 time I had achieved,” he explains.
Now, Conner is working towards his next milestone: achieving another Level 3 qualifying time, this time in the 400-metre freestyle.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀
Competitive sport requires more than talent. It requires consistency, discipline and a willingness to make sacrifices. For Conner, one of the biggest adjustments has been giving up many of the weekends he previously spent with friends.
Swimming has, however, also given him a new community. His teammates provide a unique combination of friendship and healthy competition, creating an environment in which the swimmers motivate and challenge one another.
Behind Conner’s commitment is a family equally committed to his journey.
His parents, Eonè and Richard, are often awake from 5:00 in the morning to ensure that their son gets to training sessions, competitions and galas. Their early mornings, encouragement and presence beside the pool are a reminder that every young athlete’s journey is supported by people who make sacrifices alongside them.
𝗔 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆
One word comes up repeatedly while speaking to Conner: strategy.
Long-distance events, particularly races between 400 and 800 metres, have been among the most challenging parts of his swimming journey. Rather than simply trying to swim as quickly as possible, Conner thinks carefully about how he will approach each race.
He considers his pace, how he will manage his energy and what he needs to do during each stage of the event. The same strategic mindset follows him onto the starting block.
Before an important race, Conner blocks out the noise around him and focuses on his plan. He prefers complete silence before competing, allowing him to concentrate on what lies ahead.
It is a lesson swimming has taught him both inside and outside the pool: success does not only come from effort. It comes from preparing, thinking ahead and understanding how to use that effort effectively.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝘂𝗩𝗲𝘀𝘁’𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁
For a young athlete and his family, sponsorship is about much more than financial assistance. It is also a powerful vote of confidence.
When Conner and his family learned about NuVest’s sponsorship, his immediate response was gratitude. “I was extremely grateful,” he says.
Knowing that NuVest believes in his potential has brought Conner encouragement and renewed motivation. It allows him to arrive at the pool knowing that there are people beyond his immediate family and coaching team who are invested in his progress.
The support also helps make the many demands associated with competitive swimming more manageable, from specialised equipment and training requirements to the broader costs involved in developing as an athlete.
For Conner, every contribution strengthens his determination to continue improving.
“It brings me so much joy,” he explains. “I can have a good day, go to the pool, and now I am here.”
Through this sponsorship, NuVest is not simply supporting a swimmer. It is supporting a young person’s ambition, discipline and belief in what his future could become.
𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀
Although Conner is still near the beginning of his competitive journey, he already understands that dreams require both courage and preparation. His advice to other young people is simple: “Strategise, give it your all and practise hard.”
It is advice that reflects exactly how Conner approaches his own goals. He shows up. He listens. He prepares. He puts in the work.
From his first competitive swim in April 2025 to achieving a Level 3 qualifying time, Conner has demonstrated how quickly progress can happen when natural ability is supported by discipline, family commitment, good coaching and the backing of people who believe in his potential.
At only 14 years old, there is still a great deal of Conner’s journey waiting to be written. NuVest is proud to be part of its next chapter.
𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸-𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿
• Favourite stroke: Breaststroke
• Morning or afternoon training: Afternoon
• Music or silence before a race: Silence
• Favourite pre-race snack: Biltong
• Always in his swimming bag: Fins
• Indoor pool or open-water swimming: Indoor pool
• Athlete who inspires him: Michael Phelps
• Sport he would choose besides swimming: Basketball
• Three words that describe him: Athletic, funny and joyful
• Swimming has taught him: How to strategise
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻
• 64 Events
• 42 Personal Bests
• 4 x 3rd Places
• 1 x 1st Place
• 24 Level 2 Times
• 1 Level 3 Time
• Award – Top Swimmer Level 2 (Boys u/13)
