Day 06 of the IPC Swimming World Championships
Adri Visser shredded over six seconds from her own African Record in the S5 200m individual medley when she finished the race in 9th place with a time of 4:39.88, to the 2014 record of 4:46.18.
This is Visser’s second African Record of the competition, having broken the S5 50m butterfly record a few days earlier.
“I felt really good in my swim, my head was back in the right position for the second leg and the African Record was a real bonus for me.” said Visser.
The South African swimming team was not done for the day, as they concluded the morning heats session with another African Record, this time in the 4 x 100m medley relay.
Achmat Hassiem (S10 butterfly), James Bezuidenhout (S9 backstroke), Kevin Paul (SB9 breaststroke) and Hendrik van der Merwe (S6 freestyle) broke the 2011 record by over twelve seconds when they swam to a combined time of 4:52.15.
The previous African Record stood at 5:04.08, with Hassiem and Paul being part of the 2011 team, alongside Tadhg Slattery and Charl Parkin.
Earlier on in the day, Hassiem also finished in 10th place in the S10 100m freestyle with a time of 56.97.
In the evening finals, Emily Gray touched the wall in a time of 4:59.83 in the S9 400m freestyle to end the race in 5th place.
Visser, Gray and Challis Wright will all be in action during the final day of the IPC Swimming Championships tomorrow in the S5 100m freestyle, the S9 200m individual medley and the S14 100m backstroke respectively.
The South African Swimming Team in Glasgow is proudly sponsored by Sport and Recreation South Africa, National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Nedbank, SASOL and 361.
Paralympic Qualifying Times following Day 06:
• Hendri Herbst (S11) – 50 and 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke (Heats)
• Beth Nothling (S5) – 50m backstroke
• Emily Gray (S9) – 100m backstroke
• Kevin Paul – 200m individual medley (SM10) and 100m breaststroke (SB9)
• Johann van Heerden (SB9) – 100m breaststroke
• Achmat Hassiem (S10) – 100m butterfly
For further information please contact:
Swimming South Africa Marketing Coordinator
Thathani Gaba
082 304 1817
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.
Please visit www.swimsa.org for further information and news regarding Swimming South Africa.