The South African National Short-Course Swimming Championships take place behind closed doors from 24-27 October in Pietermaritzburg, with 200 of the country’s top swimmers expected to take part.
Swimming SA hosted the Regional Short-Course Championships in September 2020, and due to the lockdown regulations at the time, only 50 participants were allowed per event.
Following the country’s move to Alert Level 1 lockdown regulations, the Federation selected the top 10 swimmers from each region and invited them to participate in the SA National Short-Course Championships, to be held at the Seals Swim Centre in Pietermaritzburg.
Stiff competition is expected when 200 of the best swimming talent goes head-to-head, with Tatjana Schoenmaker, who set a new African record in the 200m breaststroke during the Regional event, racing against Kaylene Corbett and Christin Mundell in the 50, 100 and 200m breaststroke events.
Schoenmaker will also tackle the 200 and 400m freestyle, as well as the 200m individual medley, where she will be up against Rebecca Meder and Aimee Canny.
Erin Gallagher will swim her favourite 50 and 100m butterfly as well as the 50, 100 and 200m freestyle races, while Samantha Randle will participate in the long distance 800m freestyle, as well as the 200 and 400m individual medley, the 400m freestyle and the 100 and 200m backstroke.
Matthew Sates will take to the water in an impressive 10 events – the 50 and 100m butterfly, the 50m breaststroke, the 50, 100, 200 and 400m freestyle, as well as the 100, 200 and 400m individual medley.
Sates will challenge Doug Erasmus in the 50 and 100m freestyle, the 50m breaststroke and the 50m butterfly, while Erasmus will take on Pieter Coetze and Clayton Jimmie in the 50m backstroke.
Swimming South Africa CEO Shaun Adriaanse said that the Federation is happy to host their first major National competition after the Covid-19 lockdown.
‘The Covid-19 pandemic enforced lockdown regulations and affected all South Africans, including our sportsmen and women. For swimming in particular, it is important to provide our athletes with this platform to showcase their performances as well as providing them with an opportunity to qualify for the Fina World Championships, which will take place in December 2021 in Abu Dhabi.
‘We wish all our athletes good luck and very importantly, perform well, enjoy yourselves and stay safe,’ concluded Adriaanse.