The 2024 World Championships in Doha, Qatar are nearly upon us and we now know the list of swimmers set to represent South Africa beginning on February 11th.
A 16-strong lineup consisting of 11 females and 5 males has been named, including a handful of those who opted out of racing at last year’s World Championships in Fukuoka.
Notably, Matt Sates and Pieter Coetze are among the Doha-bound racers. Both were originally named to the 2023 roster but wound up dropping the event citing its incompatibility with overall Paris 2024 preparations.
20-year-old Sates has the capability of making his presence known across multiple events, including mid-distance free and both IMs. Sates raced across last year’s World Aquatics Swimming World Cup circuit, ultimately finishing 3rd on the men’s side.
For Coetze, the 19-year-old is the top South African backstroker and posted a new national record of 52.78 at last April’s South African National Championships. His 200m back effort of 1:56.32 notched at the Athens stop of the World Cup ranks him 5th in the world at the moment.
Dune Coetzee of the Georgia Bulldogs as well as national record holder Erin Gallagher also represent athletes who were not in Fukuoka but are now on the roster for Doha.
Olympic champions Chad le Clos and Tatjana Schoenmaker appear on the roster, with the latter having recently posted her fastest 200m breaststroke time of 2:20.30 since winning Olympic gold at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Schoenmaker brought home the only pieces of hardware for South Africa last year in Fukuoka, topping the women’s 200m breast podium while also earning 100m breast silver.
If Ruta doesn’t go, Tatjana may win the double. Happy for such a friendly swimmer.
No Houlie, king of the 75 meter breast?
They might be able to qualify some relays ?
No Canny ?
Conflicts with NCAAs. Look for Aimee to make the Olympic team.
they have a chance in 5 relays, to varying degrees. aggregates were calculated using the 2023 bests of the swimmers on the doha roster:
mixed medley: 3:44.07. would’ve been 7th in fukuoka, 4 seconds faster than 16th.
w4x100 medley: 3:59.33. would be 10th, 3.5 seconds ahead of 16th.
w4x200 free: 8:02.79. 14th place, 3 seconds ahead of 16th.
m4x100 medley: 3:34.7. 13th place, 0.87 seconds ahead of 16th.
m4x100 free: 3:17.31. puts them outside the top 16. south korea finished 17th in fukuoka, before having at big drop at the asian games. south korea will qualify in doha, so south africa needs to drop 1.5 seconds to beat the 15th place finisher.
m4x200 would have been a given if they… Read more »
Did you consider the gains (about 1.8 seconds) due to rolling starts?
flat start only
GB probably also worth mentioning in the men’s 4×100 free as expected to qualify alongside South Korea.
They should still have a chance of qualifying the w 4 * 100m relay. If they do the will have a great chance at breaking the African record in Paris
I don’t understand how 2023 Worlds interfered with Paris prep but Doha Worlds do not?
Yes, very strange.
rocco meiring said that they targeted WUGs for better medal opportunities last year. the competition at WUGs and doha is significantly weaker than the fukuoka’s, so it tracks
It most likely have something to do with SAF funding is measured against results, so it’s smart to target WUGs and Doha.
But Sates didn’t even go to WUGs