2 Victories For Water Polo Women As Team SA Wrap Up World Champs

5 July 2022 – Team South Africa wrapped up their FINA World Championships campaign with the women’s water polo team finishing in 13th place and the men in 12th position.

The women’s side claimed two important victories – 14-11 over Colombia and 8-7 over Brazil to secure their 13th place.

“The world champs was fantastic for the ladies. This was the first time in history that a South African team managed to win two games at the world championships and got so close to another in terms of our Argentina game. We also improved all our scores, especially against the Netherlands,” said SA coach Delaine Mentoor.

“Overall, I’m very happy with our ladies’ performance, especially considering the time we had together. It was also a good and positive step forward knowing what’s to come – especially if we work with this group going forward,” she added.

Despite not managing to register a win in the tournament, SA men’s coach Vaughan Marlow believed the experience was invaluable for his side. Speaking after his team’s last game against Australia, Marlow said: “Playing against a lot of experienced teams was really good, because we learnt a lot from them; we need to play more and get better.”

In the diving events, Bailey Heydra finished 34th overall in the 1m springboard and 16-year-old Zalika Methula was 42nd while Grace Brammer and Kerry-Leigh Morrison finished 13th overall in the synchronised 3m springboard.

Inspired by competing in her first senior international event, Methula said: “I loved meeting and seeing many famous athletes that have inspired me my whole life. At first I was very nervous and scared to compete against all these amazing divers but once I got my first dive done my nerves slowly went away.

“Although it wasn’t my best competition, I’m very happy and proud to be representing South Africa at a senior level and at such a young age. Now I can finally say that my journey starts now and I’m excited to see what the future has in store for me and my coach.”

Methula’s coach, Danilo Congrossi, reckoned: “This was an unbelievable experience for her, now she is really determined and she can’t wait to start the training for the next big event in November which is the world juniors in Canada.

“Now she knows what to expect and she will compete with girls just two years older than her. She is also ready to give advice to the other two girls from our club that will participate, but in a younger category.”

Elsewhere, South Africa’s open water swimmers also gained valuable experience – many of them competing internationally for the first time.

18-year-old Catherine van Rensburg finished 18th in the 5km event in 1:00:55 and 28th in the 10km in 2:06:54 while Amica de Jager was 29th in the 5km in 1:01.03 and 22nd in the 10km in 2:06:00.

“The experience itself was unbelievable. I didn't quite know what to expect with it being my first world champs, so there were a lot of nerves beforehand,” admitted De Jager afterwards.

“But after my first race, I felt a lot more confident, less nervous and more sure of myself. It was an incredible learning opportunity because it's so rare that you can get the chance to test yourself against the best in the world.

“I am very happy with my performance and look forward to being able to take what I've learned, apply it in my training and to come back even stronger for it. This experience at worlds has given me an overflow of motivation and I can't wait for the next opportunity to race,” added the 20-year-old.

In the men’s races, Ruan Breytenbach finished 29th in the 5km swim in 57:54.90 and in only his second ever 10km swim finished in 22nd place in 1:55:40, while 19-year-old Connor Buck finished 28th in the 5km in 56:39.60 and 31st in the 10km in 1:59:42.

Grateful for gaining experience in the 5km before heading into the longer race, Breytenbach explained: “I managed to keep up with the front pack for a big part of the race. Gregorio [Paltrinieri] and Florian [Wellbrock] then made their move to spread the group.

“I fought hard to catch the group again, which I did for about another lap or so. Eventually I couldn’t keep up with the pace anymore, my shoulders started giving in and I felt like getting out due to being exhausted. I luckily found a British guy to swim with for the last two laps of the race. I skipped a feeding session to stay in his slipstream. We then battled to the finish and I haven’t felt more relief and peace in my life. The pain a person feels during a 10km is indescribable, especially when you’re exhausted.

“I’m surprised as to how hard I was able to push myself during these races and I am happy with my results as it was my first International open water competition.”

 

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.

Related Posts

27 Mar 2019 Fill

Hangzhou 2018 social media report: Instagram sees biggest

Hangzhou 2018 social media report: Instagram sees biggest growthRead More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA Men’s Water polo World Cup September 11-16, 2018 Berlin (GER)

A lot to learn Africa was represented by a South African team playing in Group A. They have lost ...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA Women’s Water polo World Cup September 4-8, 2018 Surgut (RUS)

The previous edition in 2014 was also hosted by Russia. The South African team finished 7th after be...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA World Men’s Youth Water Polo Championships August 11-18, 2018 Szombathely (HUN)

A significant progress The Egyptians and South Africans had an encouraging performance and were r...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA World Women’s Youth Water Polo Championships August 27- September 12, 2018 Belgrade (SRB)

Even if the young South African women’s team managed to stay at the 14th place between the 201...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA Men`s Water Polo World Cup September 11-16, 2018 Berlin (GER)

Beaucoup à apprendre L`Afrique était représentée par la sélect...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA Women`s Water Polo World Cup September 4-8, 2018 Surgut (RUS

Lors de la précédente édition 2014 disputée également en Russie ....Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA World Men`s Youth Water Polo Championships August 11-18, 2018 Szombathely (HUN)

Des Progrès sensibles Une encourageante  prestation à mettre à l`actif ...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA World Women`s Youth Water Polo Championships August 27-Sepember 02, 18 Belgrade (SRB)

Meme si le jeune sélection féminine sud africaine s`est maintenu au 14eme rang entre l...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA Men’s Water polo World Cup September 11-16, 2018 Berlin (GER)

A lot to learn Africa was represented by a South African team playing in Group A. They have lost ...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA Women’s Water polo World Cup September 4-8, 2018 Surgut (RUS)

The previous edition in 2014 was also hosted by Russia. The South African team finished 7th after be...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA World Men’s Youth Water Polo Championships August 11-18, 2018 Szombathely (HUN)

A significant progress The Egyptians and South Africans had an encouraging performance and were r...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA World Women’s Youth Water Polo Championships August 27- September 12, 2018 Belgrade (SRB)

Even if the young South African women’s team managed to stay at the 14th place between the 201...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA Men`s Water Polo World Cup September 11-16, 2018 Berlin (GER)

Beaucoup à apprendre L`Afrique était représentée par la sélect...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA Women`s Water Polo World Cup September 4-8, 2018 Surgut (RUS)

Lors de la précédente édition 2014 disputée également en Russie ....Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA World Men`s Youth Water Polo Championships August 11-18, 2018 Szombathely (HUN)

Des Progrès sensibles Une encourageante  prestation à mettre à l`actif ...Read More

09 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA World Women`s Youth Water Polo Championships August 27-Sepember 02, 18 Belgrade (SRB)

Meme si le jeune sélection féminine sud africaine s`est maintenu au 14eme rang entre l...Read More

12 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA Women’s Water Polo World Cup September 4-8, 2018 Surgut (RUS).

A lot to learn Africa was represented by a South African team playing in Group A. They have lost ag...Read More

12 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA World Men’s Youth Water Polo Championships August 11-18, 2018 Szombathely (HUN)

The Egyptians and South Africans had an en-couraging performance and were ranked 13th and 15th out o...Read More

12 Apr 2019 Fill

FINA World Women’s Youth Water Polo Championships August 27- September 12, 2018.

Even if the young South African women’s team managed to stay at the 14th place between the 201...Read More

15 Jul 2019 Fill

Gwangju, Sunday, 14th July 2019 - The South African women’s Water Polo team was overcome by the more experienced Netherlands side

The South African women’s Water Polo team was overcome by the more experienced Netherlands sid...Read More

17 Jul 2019 Fill

Day 03 of the 18th FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea

Gwangju, Monday, 15th July 2019  - The South African men’s Water Polo team got ...Read More

17 Jul 2019 Fill

Day 04 of the 18th FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea

Gwangju, Tuesday, 16th July 2019  - New Zealand was too strong for the South African ...Read More

17 Jul 2019 Fill

Day 05 of the 18th FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea

Gwangju, Wednesday, 17th July 2019  - The South African men’s Water Polo team c...Read More

18 Jul 2019 Fill

Day 06 of the 18th FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea

Gwangju, Thursday, 18th July 2019  - The final pool game of the Water Polo competitio...Read More

19 Jul 2019 Fill

Day 07 of the 18th FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea

Gwangju, Friday, 19th July 2019  - The South African men’s Water Polo team fell...Read More

10 Oct 2019 Fill

Zimbabwean Water Polo team debut at the Fina Challengers Cup

The 2019 FINA Water Polo Challenger's Cup (previously known as the FINA World Water Polo De...Read More

14 Oct 2019 Fill

Zimbabwe claim 9th place in playoffs

The Zimbabweanwater polo team claimed 9th place in the 9th - 10th playoffs at the World Challengers ...Read More

20 Sep 2021 Fill

CANA Zone 4 To Implement FINA Water Polo Program in 2022

CANA ZONE IV hosted a strategic Water Polo planning workshop to grow the water polo discipline in th...Read More

05 Feb 2024 Fill

Canada Dominates World Aquatics Champs Clash Against South Africa

Match 8 of the World Aquatics Champs in Doha showcased a dominating performance by Canada against So...Read More

05 Feb 2024 Fill

European Champs Spain outclasses South Africa

Spain, living up to the expectations of a European champion, showcased an impressive performance fil...Read More