Every South African a Swimmer

Depleted Team SA wrap up world champs campaign

Depleted Team SA wrap up world champs campaign
Monday, 20 December 2021 - The South African team’s campaign at the World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi came to an end on Monday with Chad le Clos, Brad Tandy and Tayla Lovemore not progressing past their respective heats.

Le Clos, who claimed bronze in the 100m freestyle in 2018, finished fifth in his morning heat of the same event in a time of 47.83.

That meant he was 23rd fastest overall and missed out on the next round.

Tandy just missed out on a spot in the 50m breaststroke semi-finals by four hundredths of a second. He finished fifth in his heat in 26.85 and 17th overall, with only the top 16 swimmers going through.

Lovemore was ninth in her 100m butterfly heat in 1:00.20 to finish 28th overall.

In the absence of Olympic champion Tatjana Schoenmaker, recently crowned World Cup Series winner Matt Sates, and several other top contenders who weren’t able to compete in Abu Dhabi because of the Covid-induced travel ban, it was up to Le Clos to ensure that South Africa continued their medal-winning run at the World Short Course Championships.

His silver in the 100m butterfly and bronze in the 200m butterfly extended the country’s successful run in the 25m pool, having featured on the medal table at every World Short Course Championships since 2006.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Swimming South Africa’s Marketing Coordinator

Mmathapelo Phale

011 404 2480 / 074 363 0001

Swimming South Africa is the governing body of aquatics in South Africa.

Its objective is to encourage the practice of aquatic disciplines for all in South Africa with the purpose of promoting swimming as a life skill through Learn to Swim programmes; providing healthy exercise to South Africans of all ages and races; recruiting recreational swimmers to compete in the various competitions; and promoting competition and athlete development to the highest level. Swimming South Africa is kindly supported by SASCOC, National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Arena, Sport & Recreation SA and Rand Water.