Even a public holiday would normally find her somewhere near a pool with swimsuit and swimming cap… but Tuesday’s Human Rights Day finds Rio Paralympian Alani Ferreira in a Stellenbosch Hospital.

‘I’ve just had my appendix removed but I should be back to normal in no time,’ she said from her hospital bed.

‘This whole year I’ve been quite sick so it’s probably been going for a while but I’m glad it’s finally out now. I should be back in the pool in about a week, just in time for SA senior nationals which are in Durban on 3-8 April.

‘I was operated on yesterday [Monday] morning and there are only three tiny cuts so it’s all good.’

Originally from Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, 18-year-old Ferreira swam five qualifying times for the Rio Paralympics in Brazil last year.

This year she moved south for study purposes. ‘I’m busy studying at Stellenbosch, B Com management sciences and absolutely loving it!

‘I’m training with Maties now and already feel like part of the family.

‘It’s a team of four coaches that coach me at the moment, head coach is Pierre de Roubaix, and then Karin Hugo, Brett Wood and Keith Jansen. They’re such a supportive team who have definitely helped me keep on track for nationals through all the ups and downs this year.’

Picture of Alani in recovery mode courtesy of Marina Ferreira