Meet Knysna's new swimming stars

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KNYSNA SWIMMING NEWS – Swimmers from the Knysna Aquatics Club have excelled these past two months, clocking numerous personal best times as well as racking up an impressive collection of medals.

The swimming season has been affected heavily by the pandemic, but despite the challenges, local swimmers have continued to power on and impress in the pool.

National galas were among the most seriously affected. Typically, all swimmers convene at a central location for national galas in order to compete against the country's best. However, to ensure better safety for participants in the light of the pandemic, this year all the SA galas were split into regions.

This means that while they are still officially national galas, they are held at a regional level, such as the Western Cape.

Photo gallery: Swimmers impress

In the past two months, local swimmers have really been put to the test at various regional and national championships.

Stefan Steyn excelled at the national championships in Stellenbosch.

Between 23 and 26 March, three Knysna Aquatics swimmers participated in the Western Cape Level 3 SA Age Group Championships in Oudtshoorn. Sebastian Swart achieved two personal best times and two bronze medals in the U14 age group in the 400m freestyle and 200m breaststroke events.

Tylor Koen swam in six events and achieved personal bests for five of these, managing to win the bronze medal in the 200m freestyle event. Ula van der Merwe achieved eight personal best times and three medals in the U13 age group; gold in the 200m freestyle, silver in the 400m freestyle and bronze in the individual medley.

Following the conclusion of the Level 3 championships, the Western Cape Level 2 SA Age Group Championships were held in Bellville. Izi van der Wath, who participated in the gala for the first time, managed to improve her personal bests in all six events and won a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle.

A satisfied Thomas Ferguson after completing the men's 100m butterfly race.

Next up was the highly anticipated Western Cape SA Junior and Senior Championships held in Stellenbosch between 14 and 18 April. The four participants from Knysna Aquatics were Ula van der Merwe (13), Stefan Steyn (15), Alex Leiar (16) and Thomas Ferguson (17). Ula improved on his personal best times in three events and gave his competitors a taste of what is in store for them next season. Alex won gold, silver, and bronze medals in the U16 age group in the 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke events.

Stefan took gold in the U15 200m and 400m freestyle events as well as the men's 200m breaststroke.

He further achieved silver medals in the men's 1 500m freestyle and 800m freestyle, plus bronze medals in the 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle, bringing his medal tally for the championship to seven.

Thomas obtained two gold medals in the men's 200m and 100m butterfly events; a silver in the men's 50m freestyle and a bronze in the 100m freestyle. The efforts of the group at national championships saw them bring home a total of 14 medals.

Knysna Aquatics coach Francois Boshoff was immensely proud of his swimmers. "I am extremely excited about the performance of my junior and senior squads, it really goes to show that we can develop champions from small towns like Knysna. They have set high standards and I know they will grow from strength to strength."

The team of four boys that shone in Stellenbosch, with coach Francois Boschoff (right). From left are Alex Leiar, Thomas Ferguson, Ula van der Merwe and Stefan Steyn.