Grahamstown's top swimmers, Simon Pheasant (Rhodes University), Robyn Charter (DSG), Calvin Price and Tammy Price (both Kingswood College), measured themselves up against some of the top swimmers in the world during the weekend.
Grahamstown's top swimmers, Simon Pheasant (Rhodes University), Robyn Charter (DSG), Calvin Price and Tammy Price (both Kingswood College), measured themselves up against some of the top swimmers in the world during the weekend.
The four local swimmers were part of the South African team at the South African International Invitational Swimming Meet at Newton Park Swimming Pool in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and Sunday. Swimming South Africa President, Jace Naidoo, said, “The objective of this inaugural event is to showcase the skills and talents of our Senior Elite, Senior and Youth squads, who will compete against some of Fina’s top-ranking international athletes over the next two days."
Fina is the international governing body of swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and open-water swimming. The SA contingent was up against a strong international field vying for international points and among others Brazil’s Henrique Barbosa and Joao Gomes, the US's Randall Bal, Britain’s Liam Tancock, Tunisia’s Ahmed Mathlouthi, Germany’s Yannick Lebherz, SA’s George du Rand, William Diering, Riaan Schoeman, Chad le Clos, Charl Crous and Gerhard Zandberg were out to claim a stake of the more than R800 000 in prize money.
Girl power was also on display, with Brazil’s Fabiola Molina, Spain’s Mireia Belmonte and Conchi Badillo, Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry, British duo Francesca Halsall and Elizabeth Simmonds, plus local stars Natalie du Toit, Suzaan van Biljon, Bianca Meyer, Mandy Loots, Kathryn Meaklim, Chanelle van Wyk, Karin Prinsloo and the young and talented Vanessa Mohr.
Randall Bal and Elizabeth Simmonds of the US and Britain respectively were awarded top honours as the best male and female swimmer. Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry gave notice that she was back after a 12-month sabbatical with four gold medals.
In the absence of Cameron van der Burgh, who feared an injury and withdrew from the 100m Breaststroke, it was left to Brazil’s Joao Gomes – winner of the 50m Breaststroke on day one – to make it a double in the shorter Breaststroke races.
The hosting of the meet was made possible through the support of lthe National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund.
Results of Grahamstown's swimmers at the SA International Invitational Swimming Meet: Robyn Charter: 19 in the women's 200m freestyle, preliminaries in 2:16:22 10th in the women's 50m backstroke, prelim in 32:21 16th in the women's 100m back stroke, prelim in 1:10:82 11th in the women's 50m freestyle, prelim in 28:40. Tammy Price: 15th in the women's 100m freestyle in 1:10:28 8th in the women's 50 backstroke prelim in 32:21 8th in the women's 50m back stroke final in 32:10 12th in the women's 100m back stroke prelim in 1:09:67 12th in the women's 50m freestyle in 28:45. Calvin Price: 12th in the men's 50m breast stroke, prelim in 31:15 18th in the men's 100m back stroke prelim in 1:04:46 15th in the men's 200m breaststroke prelim in 2:38:21 9th in the men's 100m breastroke prelim in 1:07:68 15th in the men's 50m backstroke prelim in 29:29 23rd in the men's 50m butterfly in 28:11. Simon Pheasant: 14th in the men's 100m butterfly prelim in 1:01:05 24th in the men's 100m freestyle prelim in 54:24 16th in the men's 100m backstroke prelim in 1:02:83 12th in the men's 50m backstroke prelim in 28:78 19th in the men's 50m flystroke prelim in 26:75.
