As the year draws to a close, the swimming action in South Africa continues with the country's top athletes converging on Durban for the World Aquatics Championships trials at the Kings Park Pool from 14-18 December. This event is a crucial stepping stone for the swimmers eyeing a spot at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha from 11-18 February next year.
Among the notable participants is Olympic champion Tatjana Schoenmaker, who recently returned to the pool after her wedding last month. Schoenmaker is set to compete in the 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke, as well as the 200m and 400m freestyle, showcasing her versatility in the water. Her training partner and friend, Kaylene Corbett, will join her in the breaststroke events, while Erin Gallagher and Emma Chelius, both accomplished swimmers, are poised to make a splash in the freestyle and butterfly sprints.
The World Aquatics Championships' unusual timing in February next year is a result of rearrangements caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the Olympic Games scheduled just five months later. According to Dean Price, Swimming South Africa’s High-Performance Manager, the Durban competition will also serve as a selection event for the African Games in Ghana in March. The priority for the upcoming year is the Paris Olympics, with a strategic focus on qualifying as many swimmers as possible for the event. Price emphasized the importance of this competition in selecting relay teams, with the World Championships in Doha providing the exclusive opportunity for qualification.
"The big picture is to get as many people as we can to Paris," said Price, underscoring the meticulous planning involving South African coaches and swimmers worldwide. The objective is to ensure proper preparation and peak performance for all participants. Price added, "Hopefully at the end of it all, we’ll have a great team, including relay teams, and one or two swimmers who can get medals. We have to make sure we tick all the right boxes and get our swimmers to the right places."
Rocco Meiring, coach to Tatjana Schoenmaker, highlighted the significance of the December trials in their training block, considering it as a window for racing. The timing aligns with the end of their training block, making it a crucial assessment opportunity for the seniors.
Meanwhile, veteran swimmer Chad le Clos expressed his determination to compete at the World Championships in Doha and the Paris Olympics in 2024. The four-time Olympic medallist, despite tweaking his back recently, is entered in multiple events in Durban. Le Clos views this competition as a gauge of his current form and emphasized his focus on the 100m butterfly, his main race.
"This is more of a seeing-where-we-are kind of thing. It’s not necessarily the be-all and end-all for me," said Le Clos. "Worlds is going to be a big one for me. I’m going to be looking to getting to the final and challenging for medals, and then the Olympics would be the main step for me," he added.
As the swimming community eagerly anticipates the trials in Durban, the stage is set for intense competition, personal achievements, and the selection of a formidable South African contingent for the global swimming stage in 2024.
