A changing of the guard will be keenly felt at this week's SA Senior National Swimming Championships in Gqeberha, as the start sheets reveal the notable absence of icons Tatjana Smith and Chad le Clos.
Smith retired from the sport after claiming gold and silver at last year’s Olympic Games in Paris while 2012 Olympic champion Chad le Clos is taking an extended break to recover from injury. This will be the first time in 20 years he won’t be competing, although he will be on the pool deck offering encouragement to those who are.
There will still be plenty of great swimming on the cards, though, as the current crop of athletes target qualification for the World Championships taking place in Singapore from 27 July to 3 August.
Among them is Olympic finalist Pieter Coetzé who has had to adapt to balancing swimming with his first-year psychology studies at the University of Pretoria.
“This year has been very interesting. I started studying so it’s pretty new to me, having to manage my time a bit more outside of the pool,” explained the 20-year-old. “But I’ve kept up my training and the standard’s quite high, so I’m in good shape and I’m excited to qualify for a few events for the World Championships,” added Coetzé who is looking to qualify for the global event in the 50, 100 and 200m backstroke and the 50 and 100m freestyle.
Coetzé is likely to face stiff competition from US-based backstroker Ruard van Renen, who reached the final of the 100m backstroke at last year’s World Short Course Championships – his first major international meet.
“Training has been better than ever, I’ve just finished with a great collegiate year going a bunch of PBs and All-American titles, so confidence heading into nationals is at an all-time high,” said Van Renen, who is coached by former SA swimmer Neil Versfeld at the University of Georgia. “Even though it’s a different pool, I know the work that me and Neil have put in will show.”
Also one to keep an eye on this week is Rebecca Meder. A year ago, the New Zealand-based star suffered a ruptured appendix just a few weeks before the national championships, so things are likely to look very different this time around.
“I have been doing lots of racing in New Zealand in preparation for Nationals and my times have been looking really strong and pretty solid in training, which has been quite positive,” said Meder who will be competing in the 100 and 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle in Gqeberha.
“Compared to last year, there’s not really much comparison… This year is a very different set-up. I’m looking forward to actually racing at Nationals… The world is swimming fast at the moment, so I think us South Africans are having to hop on that fast train and see how fast we can go too.”
Meder won’t have things all her own way in the 200m breaststroke with two-time Olympic finalist Kaylene Corbett still in the mix and hunting for a national title. Double Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lara van Niekerk has chosen to forgo the championships, however, to focus on training after a long injury layoff.
The men’s breaststroke events are likely to provide a fascinating match-up between fellow World Short Course Championships finalists Michael Houlie and Chris Smith.
Houlie is feeling confident heading into the championships.
“I’m really happy with the work that’s been put in. I know that when I’m at my best I am having fun, staying loose and playful and that really enables me to just be present and trust the process… I’m very motivated and focused for this year,” said Houlie, who is targeting a final World University Games appearance this year as well as the World Championships.
Matt Sates (top image) will also be out to impress after a training stint in Switzerland with Olympic bronze medallist Noè Ponti. It will be a busy week for the Pietermaritzburg swimmer who is entered into 10 events. His fellow Olympian Erin Gallagher is entered into five and is sure to dominate the butterfly sprints while Aimee Canny will look to defend her 100 and 200m freestyle titles.
The SA Senior National Swimming Championships take place at Newton Park Swimming Pool in Gqeberha from 9-13 April.