A NELSON Mandela Bay schoolgirl who started swimming to help her cope with asthma is competing in a top swimming event in Mauritius this weekend.

Mu’minah Connelly, a Grade 9 pupil at Collegiate High School for Girls, left for the Indian Ocean island destination on Tuesday to compete in the eighth Junior Africa Swimming Championships. The competition started on Thursday and ends tomorrow.

Mu’minah had already won a silver medal for the 200m breaststroke on Thursday, as well as qualifying for a March 2010 national swimming competition to be held in East London.

She is one of three Eastern Cape swimmers in the 24-strong South African team in Mauritius. The others are Akeem Langford and Jessica Liss, also from the Bay.

Having learnt to speak French at school, Mu’minah said this would help her “a lot while in Mauritius”, as the language was widely spoken in that country.

The star breaststroke and butterfly swimmer is representing South Africa for a second time.

In December last year she competed in the provincial galas in Potchestroom, where she claimed five gold medals.

Her outstanding performance in the breaststroke category had her winning the 100m and 200m events. She also won the 50m butterfly event in her category.

Mu’minah began swimming at the age of seven to help improve her health. Her mother, Shereen Connelly, said Mu’minah took up swimming to help improve her breathing, as she was diagnosed with bronchial asthma at the age of two.

“After her being rushed to hospital for oxygen in the early hours and us spending long hours beside her bed, we thought we’d be proactive and get her involved in swimming,” said Shereen.

“She was hooked and found her passion. Swimming is the kind of sport that demands 100% – nothing less.”

Swimming has greatly helped improve her lung capacity and even though she does not get asthma anymore, Mu’minah still has to go for regular check-ups.

Before leaving for Mauritius Mu’minah said she was “excited and scared at the same time” as this was her first trip outside South Africa.

She said she was also inspired by South African amputee swimmer Natalie du Toit, who lost her leg in 2001 when she was hit by a car while riding her scooter.

“After all that happened, she remained dedicated and strived to be the best.”