Michael McGlynn and Michelle Weber defended their 10km titles during Day 01 of the 2021 SA National Open Water Swimming Championships

Jeffrey's Bay, Friday, 19th March 2021 – The 2021 South African Open Water Swimming Olympic Trials and qualification for the FINA World Junior Championships began today at the Marina Martinique in Jeffrey's Bay.

The top two swimmers from the men's and women's 10km race will be eligible for national selection and the first to pencil their names on that list were defending champion Michael McGlynn and Gauteng's Henre Louw, who won the gold and silver in 1:54:49.83 and 1:55:04.44, respectively, with the bronze medal going to Namibia's Phillip Seidler in 1:55:06.44.

In the ladies' 10km event, Michelle Weber dominated the race, clocking a golden 2:06:55.77, with Gauteng's Stephanie Houtman a close second in 2:07:14.86, while the bronze was claimed by the Eastern Cape's Amica de Jager in 2:07:47.45.

The Western Cape's Keegan Wright scooped the honours in the 14-15 age group 3km race in a fast 36:19.35 ahead of Bryce Minderon in 36:21.18 and Liam Ellis in 36:53.24, while  Luan Terblanche, Nic Trower and Claudio Domiter walked away with the top three spots in the 12-13 category in 40:59.45, 41:14.52 and 43:11.60, respectively.

Jeandre Kleynhan (36:26.00), Matthew Andrew (36:54.45) and Joshua Perold (37:14.49) won the 16-18 3km, with the medals in the 19-30 category going to Joshua Jacoby in 37:11.00 and Roberto Marchi in 39:18.73.

The 41-50 race saw Coillard Ford claim the gold in 39:18.81, followed by Roberto Riccardi in 42:45.58 and Adrian Goate in 43:32.87, while in the Over 51 category, Gary Albertyn finished first in 36:23.00 ahead of Ross Duncan in 46:54.60 and Mark Edge in 48:06.04.

For live streaming of the event, please follow @SANATOWS2021 on Facebook and for full results, please visit www.zsports.co.za/saows-champs

The SA National Open Water Swimming Championships continue tomorrow.

Saturday, 20th March 2021:

09h00 – 7.5km Men

09h05 – 7.5km Women

13h30 – 3km Women

13h30 – 3km Women Multi Disability

15h00 – 4 x 1.25km Mixed Relay

Sunday, 21st March 2021:

09h00 – 5km Men

09h00 – 5km Men Multi Disability

11h00 – 5km Women

11h00 – 5km Women Multi Disability

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Swimming South Africa's Marketing Coordinator

Mmathapelo Phale

011 404 2480

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.