Big wave to swimming coach

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Swimming coach Sybeth Hughes (67), a woman who taught many local children to brave the water and become strong swimmers, died on Sunday morning 10 July in her home in George.

She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April last year.

Sybeth has been a swimming coach and teacher for over 30 years, of which the last 23 were spent in George.

She was a founding member of the Garden Route swimming club Fish Eagle Aquatics (FEA), along with Erica Menton and Delia van Biljon. "They started the club in 1999," said FEA president Tarita Pollicutte.

"She was also on the Eden Aquatics (then SWD) committee as the education and training as well as development representative. Her responsibilities included training other coaches and facilitating courses and seminars locally. She managed the development programme each year, getting the younger swimmers water safe and identifying talent for competitive swimming."

Family time: Sybeth and Bryon (back, middle) with (from left) Clive (son), Lizette (daughter-in-law), Taletha (daughter-in-law) and Kevin. In the middle are the grandchildren Blake and Katelyn, with Joshua and Kayden in front.

Memories
Little ones will remember auntie Sybeth of Sammy Seal Swimming School and the older children will have memories of the swimming pool at Carpe Diem Swimming School, where she gave her classes with the assistance of Jo-Ann Fransman, Rainier Matthee and Henrolien Remas. Coaching at Carpe Diem School swimming pool led to her also working closely with disabled swimmers.

Sybeth and her husband Bryon Hughes were married for 48 years. They first lived in Johannesburg and East London before they moved to George 23 years ago. Her career as swimming coach started in East London. "She enjoyed her garden, but swimming took most of her time. It was something she lived for," he said. "It is not going to be the same. I lost my soulmate and my wife."

Sybeth and Bryon Hughes

Bryon and Sybeth Hughes on their wedding day, 16 March 1974, in Kimberley.

According to Bryon his wife was actually on the mend after she received chemotherapy for the cancer. "She was in remission, but the cancer came back to her liver in May this year. However, it was assumed she died from heart failure. "It all happened so quickly. One needs to remember that she has had a long illness," he said.

"Sybeth had a bad night on Saturday evening and myself and her sister, who had been visiting, decided to take her to the hospital on Sunday morning. We were on our way out and had not even left the house yet, when she passed away."

Sybeth's legacy
Sybeth was coach to Minke Janse van Rensburg, who holds a total of four world swimming records as Down syndrome swimmer in the category for all ages.

"Sybeth wasn't just her coach, she was Minke's second mom," said Minke's dad, Hennie Janse van Rensburg. Sybeth met her five years ago during a water therapy session at Carpe Diem. "We prepared Minke for what might happen and talked about it since last year. She is taking it very well, but has so much sympathy for Bryon, whom she now fears will be very sad."

Sybeth Hughes and Minke Janse van Rensburg last year in February, after Minke broke the open (all ages) Down syndrome world-record in the 100m freestyle.

Hennie Weideman too remembers Sybeth with fondness and recalls the loving way she had with special needs children.

"My son Phillip is a former Down syndrome Protea swimmer. It takes a special person to work with these kids and she did that splendidly. She had a way of motivating him and getting the best out of the children in a very nice way. She was such a beautiful person, inside and out. She was more than just my son's coach, she was a friend and part of our family," he said.

"She was deeply religious and remained very positive until the end. We were so shocked when we heard she had passed away, we actually thought she was getting better. It was a privilege to know her."

Dave van der Walt, former chairperson and operations manager of Eden Biathlon, said he worked with Sybeth for many years.

"She coached so many of our kids. We had a chat two weeks ago. She helped a great deal with development clinics and athletes, which were close to her heart."

Tarita Pollicutte said FEA is a close-knit swim family spread over the whole Southern Cape, from Riversdale to Plettenberg Bay and Oudtshoorn.

"Sybeth travelled to all these towns to help with coaches' yearly registrations and compliance with the Swimming South Africa requirements. FEA has not only lost a founding member, but an experienced coach and dear friend."

Sybeth received a trophy for Coach of the Year for the Eden district in 2019.

Sybeth is survived by her husband Bryon, sons Kevin and Clive, four grandchildren, Katelyn, Kayden, Blake and Joshua, daughters-in-law Lizette and Taletha and her sister, Zelda.

A memorial service will be held for Sybeth Hughes on Friday 15 July at the George Methodist Church in Plantation Road, Heatherlands.

Sybeth and Bryon with their grandchildren, Katelyn, Kayden, Blake and Joshua.