Please understand that I DO NOT reach out like this for just anything or do I take these kinds of things lightly. I am a very proud person and I've worked very hard for what I have in my life. And if you know me, you know that I absolutely despise asking for financial assistance, so if there were any other way, I would've already done it. But I have set up this GoFundMe to help me get back to the United states to work and train.

So, here is a little background to the story:

As of last year, I had been living, working and training in the United States for over 6 years. After graduating in May, I became a foreigner with no visa, no source of income as well as no reliable place to train. So, when facilities began to reopen, I used the last money I had to pay for 1-hour timeslots to a public pool so that I could keep training. Around that same time, I had reached out to a immigration lawyer and began the process of applying for an O-1 visa, so that once it was approved, I could start making money again. In October, after months of no work, no way of making money and a mountain of lawyer fees with no way of paying it off, I was added to an International Swimming League (ISL) team last-minute.

Now, this was great news because I had a way of making money again! But, the main issue was that I was still in-between visas but was required to travel to be a part of the team which, ultimately, jeopardized my return back to the U.S. So, after traveling for the ISL, I returned to South Africa so I could complete the interview portion of the visa. Unfortunately, with COVID still on high alert, closure of embassies as well as restrictions to worldwide travel, there were major delays on the final stage of the visa process and I could only schedule my visa appointment for March the following year (this year).

But then, March rolled around and South Africa was still on an extremely high COVID alert. My appointment was automatically cancelled and I was required to reschedule it for the next available date which was only at the end of July. But because of the travel ban from South Africa to the U.S., I would need an additional document approved prior to even being allowed to travel back.

However, there is some good news! After correspondence with my lawyer, he says that he can help! The lawyer fees would cost me $1,500 for his company to assist in expediting my visa appointment as well as assisting in the approval of the necessary document.

So please, with your help, I will be able to get back to the United States, start training efficiently again and allow me the opportunity to get my swimming career back on track.