42-Yr-Old Roland Schoeman Posts 22.91 50 Free Heats Swim

2023 SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Competing in the heats of the men’s 50m freestyle on day 4 of the 2023 South African National Championships, 42-year-old Roland Schoeman put up a time of 22.91.

Schoeman took the 2nd seed this morning, with backstroke ace Pieter Coetze capturing the top time of 22.18 to land lane 4. Clayton Jimmie rounded out the top 3 men of the morning in 23.04.

Schoeman owns a lifetime best of 21.67 in the 50m free, a time he first put up at the 2008 Olympic Games before matching it again at the 2013 World Championships.

The World Aquatics database lists times of 22.04 in 2014, 22.28 in 2015 and 22.75 in 2016 for Schoeman in this 50m free event.

Olympic multi-medalist Schoeman is racing in his first national championships since 2016. He swam in the heats of the 100m free already here, notching a mark of 1:01.73 (23.15/38.58). He was originally entered in the 50m fly which takes place tomorrow, the final day of the meet.

Last December Schoeman competed at the King Marlin Swim Club Pro Am Classic where he produced times of 19.28 in the 50y free, 43.10 in the 100y free, 23.78 in the 50y breast and 20.47 in the 50y fly.

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Swim Dad
1 year ago

Does anybody know if he’s there on his own dime or does he have sponsorship?

Anti Doping Advocate
Reply to  Swim Dad
1 year ago

Highly doubt he is sponsored. Just google his name. No sponsor wants to be associated with him.

Howielones
Reply to  Swim Dad
1 year ago

Who or what company wants to donate to those that should hang it up?! This guy and the matching age Brazilian racing 50s need to move on. Even rowdy knows when to race his own age.

Lion Swim
1 year ago

Hate to see this cheater draw any attention away from the accomplishments of clean athletes at this meet (or any meet). Sooner he gets far away from this sport the better.

Mr Piano
Reply to  Lion Swim
1 year ago

What clean athletes lol

Hank
Reply to  Lion Swim
1 year ago

Why would he be taking stuff to go 22.9 at age 42 when he has a day job that pays him well? That makes no sense. Not like he’s going to win a medal or any cash prizes.

Last edited 1 year ago by Hank
The unoriginal Tim
Reply to  Hank
1 year ago

I have swam with masters swimmers a lot slower than that who are using

Mike in dalllas
Reply to  Lion Swim
1 year ago

I think the final adjudication of his case before CAS was pretty much on his side regarding these allegations. Putting him in the same category as certain Russian or Chinese cheaters is simply not conversant with the final outcome.

Hank
1 year ago

The finals were completed but I can’t get the result without a Meet Mobile subscription. Even if he finishes too 2 he is nowhere near a FINA A cut

Last edited 1 year ago by Hank
Chlorinetherapy
Reply to  Hank
1 year ago

22.89 I believe.

Hank
Reply to  Chlorinetherapy
1 year ago

That’s a bit outside a Fina A Cut I think

Andrew
1 year ago

He’s about as clean as Sun Yang at his peak

The unoriginal Tim
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

So clean? Yang got busted for a heart meds that were legal until 2014.

KSW
1 year ago

Kinda slow considering Grant House is the same age and goes 22.73.

Dan
Reply to  KSW
1 year ago

Grant House is 42?

KSW
Reply to  Dan
1 year ago

yes

Chlorinetherapy
Reply to  KSW
1 year ago

Grant House is 24 not 42.

bubo
Reply to  Chlorinetherapy
1 year ago

JUST APPRECIATE THE FUNNY YOU NERD

Chlorinetherapy
Reply to  bubo
1 year ago

Oops sorry wasn’t aware of the in joke from here in New Zealand.

Meathead
1 year ago

Not uncommon for 42 yo’s to have 15 second spreads between first and second 50 in a 100

Happens all the time

Steve Nolan
1 year ago

1:01.7? Did he blast a fast 50 for a split time and then cruise back?

Philipp Harig
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Surely, no way he would die that hard. If not most people here could say they would destroy him in a 100 free

Last edited 1 year ago by Philipp Harig
Hank
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Warmup for the splash and dash

The unoriginal Tim
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

23.1/38.5 suggests so.

Pam Reynecke
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Yes – he didn’t even flipturn

John
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Pretty much sums up my masters comeback

Steve Nolan
Reply to  John
1 year ago

I’ve done it twice lol.

SwemSA
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Yes, he definitely cruised back. Probably a good way to break the ice and settle the nerves on his first race back.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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