As the 2023 World Championships draw nearer another nation has released its roster for the competition slated for Fukuoka, Japan this July.
South Africa has revealed its 19-strong lineup for the event, with the roster consisting of 10 women and 9 men.
You can see all of the World Championships rosters released thus far here.
Headling the women is Olympic champion and former World Record holder Tatjana Schoenmaker, who will be joined by Commonwealth Games champion Lara van Niekerk.
The men will see the likes of Olympic champion Chad Le Clos at the forefront, with backstroking ace Pieter Coetze and versatile Matt Sates alongside him.
Also making the grade is 42-year-old Roland Schoeman.
As we reported, Schoeman, who will turn 43 ahead of the World Championships, raced at the South African National Championships this past April. That was the first time the sprinter had competed at the domestic event since 2016, with his quickest time checking in at the 22.82 50m free leading off a relay at the meet.
South Africa took just 8 swimmers to the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, with the roster having to partially self-fund its journey. This time around, per the team selection agreement, travel to and from the event, as well as accommodation, are listed as free.
In Budapest, South Africa placed 18th in the overall swimming medal table with its sole piece of hardware represented by van Neikerk’s bronze in the women’s 50m breaststroke.
What happened to some of the previous comments from yesterday?
This post was published today, so there are no comments from yesterday. You may be thinking of the standalone about Roland, who announced his spot on the team yesterday?
Thanks Braden – Apologies, I realized after the fact.
Thanks Braden. My apologies, I realized after I had posted.
A strong team relative to the government’s support.
And, having Roland Shoeman as probably the oldest competitor is a big plus.
Undoubtedly, it’ll be their best performance in ages.
Mike, do you think it’s fair to let Roland compete? I believe he tested positive for doping a few years back. What a shame!
He got off very lightly. Really should’ve been banned for 2+ years.
That may be true but that was not the judgment of the Governing, competent authority.
After serving the suspension which was placed upon him by the competent authority, how could we not let him compete? You are quite Right to indicate the seriousness of any violations But once Justice has been served, He has to be given a second chance.None of us make the rules but should we not follow them?
Mike, do you think Roland was doping prior to getting caught? Any reason to think Roland is still using today?
No evidence of anything like that!
If you slipped a “Truth” and “American Way” in there, it would’ve been better, like a Superman thing.
I agree all this hatred from people who can’t even swim a 50🤣 its honestly ridiculous…. Leave Roland be and worry about your own lives… The man paid for his sins.
I think part of it is that Roland had the stance that anyone caught for any doping violation is a cheater, regardless if it was proven contamination. Google Roland Schoeman Cielo or Hardy
Now that he has a doping violation which he says was contamination (wasn’t proven), he has had to walk back his previous stance and apologize.
Now he is angry that everyone has the same skepticism about his drug violation that he had about everyone elses.
In my opinion, I don’t believe he knowingly doped, but if he should have done a better job monitoring his supplement intake if he was going to be so hard on those caught for violations. Also i think it was… Read more »
“Mike In Dallas” reminds me a bit of “Roland in Phoenix”
We knew they were going to take him anyway, but didn’t Sates miss the A cut for all of his events?
From the list above – he got an A cut… I think it was in 100 fly.
Correct.
But he’ll be swimming his other events right? How?
So many old names. South Africa needs some young blood.
Its not a bad team per se, and I can make a plausible case for most. They clearly look to be trying to qualify both 4X100s and perhaps 4XMED.
What IS disappointing is the presence of one “perennial” who clearly must be suitably ‘connected’ and/or always able to “self fund. Otherwise, on merit there can be 0 justification for the continued presence of one Clayton Jimmie.
Did Clayton hide your car keys or something, wombat?
A bunch on the team are late teens early 20’s…