Voigt hunting home soil victory

Racing on the global sporting stage often involves stressful travel arrangements and acclimatising to foreign foods and weather. 

But for Savannah Voigt, the Surf Lifesaving World Championships in November will be a homecoming. 

Voigt grew up as a nipper at Clifton Beach, South Africa, and has competed in five National Titles at Port Elizabeth, the venue for this year’s Worlds. 

The Bond University Bachelor of Health Sciences student was named in the South African representative team last week, first learning of the exciting news through a text message. 

“It was a big surprise - I had no clue they were announcing the team when they did,” Voigt said.

“I'm here in Aus and the announcement was made back home in South Africa, so my friend messaged me ‘congrats’, and I was like, ‘congrats for what?’ 

“They sent an email with the whole list a few minutes later, and it was such an honour to see my name.”

Voigt relocated from Cape Town’s Clifton Beach to Australian champion club Northcliffe upon enrolling at Bond in 2023.

But rather than follow the well-trodden path into ironwoman racing like stablemates Lana Rogers and Naomi Scott, she’s instead carved out a career in pool rescue, the lesser known but equally competitive side of lifesaving.

In pool rescue events, athletes simulate ocean rescues using mannikins, fibreglass fins and inflatable rescue tubes. 

At the World Championships, points won in pool rescue are worth equal to those earned in the ocean. 

It’s an area South Africa have identified as crucial for bridging the gap to Australia and New Zealand. 

“We’ve only recently started cracking down in pool rescue after realising you need points in both the pool and the surf to be successful at Worlds,” she said. 

“When I went to Worlds in Italy in 2022, it was my first time doing the pool events, and I had no idea what was happening.

“Since then, I’ve put in so much more work, and it’s really shown.

“At the Commonwealth Lifesaving Champs in Wales last year, South Africa came second to Australia and got plenty of medals - it showed us we can do it.” 

Voigt is the ultimate allrounder. 

As well as aiming to mix it with the world’s top cohort of pool rescue athletes, including multiple Olympians, she is also training for several ocean events. 

An intense schedule including 12 sessions a week involves a mix of swimming in the ocean and pool, gym and pilates, is designed to prepare her for various disciplines. 

“In the surf, I love doing board rescue and tube rescue, and will hopefully be doing these at Worlds,” she said. 

“I also like beach sprinting and stepping in for a beach relay, but particularly enjoy flags as I’m small and can get up off the sand quickly.”

For Voigt, the Worlds is ultimately about more than just competition. 

It provides an opportunity to showcase her beloved home country to friends from around the world. 

“Hosting the worlds and showing all the athletes from other countries around will be so special,” she said. 

“It’s going to be an amazing experience”.