Press Release:
Siphiwe Baleka Returns to Competition in Pursuit of Becoming Oldest Olympic Swimmer
"Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles." - Olympic Charter
Question: In December of 2020, Sports Illustrated ran an article saying that, at 50 years of age, you are trying to become the oldest swimmer in Olympic history. What’s the story behind this?
Siphiwe: (laughing). Yes. In April, I will turn 50 year’s old. I have been competing in Masters Swimming in the United States since 2011 and I have won 13 USMS national titles, set three USMS national records and won four silver medals at FINA Masters World Championships. I went to Guinea Bissau in January of 2020 because my great, great, great, great, great grandfather was born there. He survived the middle passage of a trans-Atlantic slave ship and was enslaved in South Carolina. So I wanted to visit my ancestral homeland. While I was there, I met with the Guinea Bissau Minister of Sport Mr. Dionisio Pereira. That’s when the idea of competing for Guinea Bissau in the Tokyo Olympics was presented.
Question: You are going to compete for Guinea Bissau?
Siphiwe: I hope so.
Question: But you were born in America, how can you do that?
Siphiwe: I took a DNA test that proved my great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from the Balanta people of Guinea Bissau. Like more and more African Americans, we are returning to our ancestral homelands and getting citizenship. Countries in Africa are recognizing that this is the correct thing to do to help bring about healing for the injustice of the slave trade. First, I have to become naturalized as a citizen of Guinea Bissau. I am going through that process now. When it is complete, the Guinea Bissau Swim Federation can name me to its National Team. Then, the Guinea Bissau Olympic Committee can submit my application for a “universality place” at the Olympics in Tokyo.
Question: Do you need to qualify?
Siphiwe: I don’t have to meet the Olympic A or B time standards since Guinea Bissau has no other swimmers.
Question: You will be 50 years old during the summer Olympic games in Tokyo. How can you compete with swimmers half your age?
Siphiwe: I can’t compete with the fastest swimmers in the world! I definitely won’t be winning any medals. But, according to the results of the 2016 Rio Olympics, I would have swum faster than 27 competitors in the men's 50 Meter Freestyle using my best time from that same year. Ever since I was a little boy, I have watched the Olympics and dreamed of competing some day. It was a realistic possibility for me back in 1992 but it didn’t happen then. Now I have the opportunity again. Currently, I am the 44th fastest swimmer of 54 countries on the African continent in the 50 meter freestyle. Guinea Bissau competes in Zone 2 (West and Central Africa) of the Confédération Africaine de Natation (CANA). I am the seventh fastest swimmer in the 50 meter freestyle for CANA Zone 2. I’m not going to the Olympics trying to be the fastest swimmer in the world. I am going to the Olympics as one of Africa’s best swimmers without regard for age. I am going to the Olympics to be the best that I can be and to represent the good people of Guinea Bissau.
Question: You swam at the TYR Winter Long Course Invite held at the University of Arkansas this past weekend. How did you do?
Siphiwe: It was my fist competition since November of 2019 so I was pretty nervous and didn’t know what to expect. My first race was the 100 meter freestyle. I was worried about finishing the race and I really, really struggled at the end. My time was :55.90 and that was only 1.5 seconds slower than my best shaved time of :54.46. My time would have been 2nd in the FINA Masters Swimming World Rankings for 2020. However, I went out WAY too fast and could barely finish. In the consolation finals, my goal was simply to swim a much smarter race and to feel like I had something in the tank at the end. I was able to do that and I believe that with the right training between now and the Olympics, I can swim a best time in the 100 meter freestyle. I won’t be near my best time from college in 1992 (:52.20), but a best time would make me the 3rd fastest in history for the Men’s 50-54 age group….
Watch Siphiwe’s race at 1:13.52 of the video
Question: How was your 50 meter freestyle?
Siphiwe: I was encouraged after splitting 26.1 on the first 50 of my 100 in prelims so I felt I could have a very fast 50 meter free. I time trialed the 50 after the prelims session and went 25.20. That was a really good swim and is my best unshaved time. My best in masters is 24.60. So I was hoping to have a really good swim on Sunday but I only went 25.53 in prelims and 25.53 again in the finals, so I was disappointed with that.
Watch Siphiwe’s race at 1:20.10 of the video
Question: So what’s next?
Siphiwe: I would like to get the citizenship completed and named to the team as soon as possible so I can just focus on training and getting better. Waiting for the process to finish is becoming more challenging. The biggest obstacle, however, is funding. Like a lot of businesses, mine took a major hit as a result of COVID and there is little income now. Guinea Bissau is the 12th poorest country and so there won’t be any money for me from the Guinea Bissau Olympic Committee. I have to find a way to pay for all my living expenses, training and travel between now and the end of the games. I saw that swimmers on the US Olympic Swim Team get about $40,000 worth of funding so I set up my own GoFundMe campaign to raise the same amount for my own Olympic journey. I spent about $600 just to compete this weekend!