So many sports, so little time

Bubbly St Winifreds teenager Shelley Freyer is a talented young athlete who has been excelling both locally and nationally in five sporting codes - hockey, touch rugby, softball, surfing and tennis.

The 16-year-old lass, who also boasts an impressive academic record, is currently strutting her stuff at Suncoast Beach at the sixth annual Roxy Wahine Cup. Freyer, who's relatively new to the competitive arena, will take on top local and national juniors in the under-16 division with a view to securing a spot in Sunday's finals.

- Full name: Shelley Freyer.

- Nicknames: Dori, Milo.

- Age: 16.

- Date of birth: July 5, 1988.

- Star sign: Cancer.

- School: Amanzimtoti High.

- Grade: Just passed grade 10.

- Where do you live: St Winifreds.

- Favourite foods: Chicken burgers, pasta and Jelly Tots.

- Favourite restaurant: Centre Court.

- Favourite take-away: KFC.

- Favourite song: These Words (Natasha Bedingfield).

- Favourite singers: Avril Lavigne and Natasha Bedingfield.

- Favourite bands: Blink 182, Maroon 5, Bowling for soup.

- Favourite actors: Hugh Grant and Ben Stiller.

- Favourite movie: Shrek.

- Favourite TV programme: Friends.

- Favourite clothing item: Shoes.

- Favourite clothing label: Roxy.

- Most treasured item: My parents.

- Hobbies: Playing sport, listening to music and relaxing with my friends.

- Family: My parents are Carl and Wendy and then there's my brother Grant and sister Caryn. My dad is very sporty - he cycles and plays squash, my sister was a South African drum majorette and Grant played Southern Coastals rugby.

- Pets: We have two dogs, Codi and Ash, and two birds, Commet and Barney.

- Role models: I have many international role models, but I think the person who has most inspired me and helped me persevere has been my good friend, Lauren Martin.

- What makes you smile? Being alive, living each day and achieving what I set out to do. Oh, Benny Vaughan's lame jokes always make me smile.

- What upsets you? People who jump to conclusions and assume things without knowing the facts.

- What five words best describe you? Energetic, confident, honest, loyal and determined.

- Do you have a boyfriend, or is there someone you fancy? Yes, Sheldon Higgo - we met at school.

- What would you like to do after school? I haven't decided yet, but I'd like to pursue something in biokinetics or paediatrics.

- When did you start surfing and how did you get into it? I started three years ago with a friend. Before surfing, I used to bodyboard with my friend Kara Wickens.

- Surf style: Regular (right-footed).

- Which divisions do you compete in? Under-16

- Your favourite break: Seal point, Cape St Francis

- Do you have any sponsors? No.

- Who has had the most influence in your life and sporting career: My parents and friends.

- Where do you see yourself in 10 years' time? Married, with a good job and possibly with children.

- What do you do in your spare time? What spare time?

- What's your first thought in the morning? I shouldn't have had that last one!

- And your last? I shouldn't have had that last one!

- Most memorable moments: Being selected for the under-16 SA softball team that competes in the USSASA Games in Cape Town from Monday till Wednesday; surfing at the Vic Bay junior championships last year and being selected for the 2002 SA surfing academy team.

- Worst moment: When I missed out on the under-13 KZN hockey trials for my school tour - I didn't make the team that year.

- Most embarrassing moment: I've had plenty of those - nose-diving in front of a crowd of cute boys; running in bodyboarding fins only to find myself face first in the sand in front of everyone at the beach.

- Greatest achievement: Making last year's SA softball team and the 2002 touch rugby team.

- Achievements: Softball - KZN schools, SA schools, KZN women's B team; 2004 KZN women's A team;

Hockey - KZN schools since 2002; captained the 2004 C team;

Touch rugby - KZN team since 2002; 2002 SA team;

Surfing - Surfed for the Southern KZN team in 2003

and 2004 at the junior championships;

Tennis - Durban and Districts team since 2002.

- Academic: Finished in the top three since grade eight and received the top learner award in technical drawing and was runner up to the dux at the end of grade eight.

- Do you watch other sports? Tennis, surfing, hockey - I watch a bit of everything.

- Your favourite local sportswoman: Sarah Johnston.

- Your favourite local team: SKZN surfing team and the Sharks.

- Your favourite international sportsman: Johnny Wilkinson and Dylan Graves.

- Your favourite international team: England rugby team.

- Short-term goals: To do well at school, keep up my sporting achievements and to become head girl at Amanzimtoti High in 2006.

- Long term goals: To go to a good college, get my degree and travel the world with my family.

- Any challenges thus far: Playing so much sport requires a great deal of hard work, dedication and time.

- If you could be someone else for the day, who would it be and why? Jennifer Aniston - she's perfect and also because she's married to Brad Pitt.

- What's your idea of perfect happiness? Living on a paradise island with my family and friends, with absolutely no worries.