KZN Coastal Rowing Club is celebrating one of their own for reaching a lifetime milestone as he gears up to take to the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.

Callum Dreyer, 16, will represent SA, competing in the Coastal Men’s Solo (CJM1x) event (Coastal Beach Sprints). The Grade 10 learner at Hilton College will be among 2700 athletes aged 15 to 17 from 200 National Athletics Committees. He was selected, together with his coach, Avlyn Gallwey, the team manager, and his boat handler.

Gallwey shared on Callum’s big moment, “Callum’s path to the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games has been nothing short of a whirlwind, and as his coach, it has been an absolute joy to watch it unfold. He is an exceptionally talented athlete, eager to learn and naturally connects with the water.

“Callum’s foundation is built on flat water. Rowing for Hilton College, he was incredibly fortunate to learn his amazing skills, giving Callum strength and precision that every elite athlete needs. Then last year Callum’s rowing world got bigger. It all started when he came to watch our Durban Beachfront Regatta as a spectator; he later gave it a go at a rowing camp at Midmar Henley Dam, but the real magic happened when he started coming to Vetch’s Beach every Sunday.

“That’s where our hands-on journey began. I taught him the art of beachfront rowing, entry, exits, and turns, and the unique rhythm of coastal rowing. Honestly, he took it like a duck to water; his instincts on the waves were undeniable from day one. From our Sunday mornings at Vetch’s, things moved incredibly fast,” Gallwey said.

Callum reportedly proved he had both the technical fitness for the ocean and raw lead fitness required for the national stage. His combined performances earned him an invite to trial for the SA Coastal squad, where he excelled.

“To be by his side as his manager, coach, and female boat handler is a massive privilege. We’ve put in the hours on the sand, and on the surf, and watching him earn the right to his country’s colours is deeply rewarding. I am so proud of how far he has come.

“And I can’t wait to be right there on the beach in Dakar, cheering him on, and watching him show the world what he can do,” Gallwey said.

Callum said he was most excited about the experience of meeting and competing with fellow rowers on a global stage, and “seeing what they can do”.

The Youth Olympic Games 2026 will be held from October 31 until November 13.

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