Swimming South Africa has released their roster for this summer’s World Championship teams, which is a roster that is always awaited for around the world. The South African squad selections always seems to have an air of politics and uncertainty surrounding them, due to the fact that their qualification procedures leave the door open for a lot of subjectivity. Though there was much speculation this year, Swimming South Africa seems to have largely relented and decided to take a sizable squad to Shanghai.
Comments by SSA President Jaice Naidoo indicated that he understands the importance of major championship meets for the development of young swimmers. “”This year’s international season and especially the Fina World Championships is of specific importance, as it is seen by Fina as a dress rehearsal for next year’s Olympic Games to be held in London,” Naidoo said.
The list below includes several swimmers who have only FINA consideration times, as well as South Africa’s comeback breaststroke star Suzaan van Biljon. The inclusion of Van Biljon, who didn’t achieve any individual consideration times at South African Nationals, gives a hint that the South African women are planning on entering a medley relay, which hasn’t happened since the 2007 World Championships.
No events were indicated, so its still up in the air as to who will swim the men’s 100 free, which is an event that is surrounded by much contreversy. None of the South Africans posted FINA Automatic consideration times in the final, as SSA rules mandate, but Grame Moore did so in prelims. Roland Schoeman would go on to win the final (in a FINA consideration time), but by their own rules, Moore’s 48.8 from the early rounds does not trump Schoeman’s 49.7 from the later rounds. Even if Schoeman scratches the race, Gideon Luow still gets the spot over Moore, due to his runner-up position.
The women’s squad, though much smaller than the men’s, has some real quality. The most interesting name on the women’s list is 16-year old Vanessa Mohr, who earned automatic qualifying marks in the butterfly races. She’s on a good path to become a very special swimmer, especially while training with Northern Tigers Swimming, home to 8 members of the World Championship team. Her counterpart on the men’s squad, 200 butterflier and defending Youth Olympics Champion Chad le Clos, will also garner a lot of buzz headed into the meet.
The recently announced new head coach for the program is Graham Hill, coach of the KwaZULU-Natal squad, and he will lead 9 swimmers (out of 24) to the World Championships.
South Africa also sends an impressive open water squad that includes Chad Ho, who has been ominously absent from the FINA circuits this year, and Natalie du Toit. For the full Open Water lineup, click here.
For SSA’s full, 9-page breakdown of all of their National Teams, click here.
South African 14th FINA World Championships Swimming Team
Men
1. Cameron van der Burgh (NTS)
2. Chad Le Clos (KZN)
3. Charl Crous (KZN)
4. Darian Townsend (KZN)
5. Gerhard Zandberg (NTS)
6. Heerden Herman (WP)
7. Mark Randall (BOR)
8. Neil Versveld (KZN)
9. Riaan Schoeman (KZN)
10. Roland Schoeman (NTS)
11. Gideon Louw (NTS)
12. Graeme Moore (CG)
13. Darren Murray (NTS)
14. Leith Shankland (KZN)
15. Jean Basson (CG)
16. Sebastien Rousseau (WP)
17. Jasper Venter (KZN)
Women
1. Vanessa Mohr (NTS)
2. Wendy Trott (WP)
3. Kathryn Meaklim (KZN)
4. Karin Prinsloo (NTS)
5. Suzanne van Biljon (KZN)
6. Chanelle van Wyk (NTS)
7. Leone Vorster (NTS)
