South Africa Names 18 Swimmers to 2016 Short Course Worlds Squad

South Africa has named 18 swimmers who will travel to the 2016 FINA Short Course World Championships that will be held from December 6th-11th in Windsor, Canada.

Athletes will be responsible for R20,000 worth of their own expenses in a deposit to commit to the trip (approximately $1,400 USD), with an additional R10,000 (approx. $700 USD) expected to cover athletes’ costs.. It has become common practice in South Africa for athletes to have to cover a portion or all +of their own travel expenses, even for major events like World Championship meets.

Each athlete’s spot will be secure with the deposit of R20,000 and their signing of acceptance forms.

The roster will include a lot of new faces making their first trip to a World Championships, but also some familiar names, including Olympic gold medalists Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh. Le Clos won 4 gold medals (the 200 free, plus a butterfly sweep) and van der Burgh won a silver (in the 100 breaststroke) at the last edition of the short course World Championships in 2014.

Le Clos’ performance included a new World Record in the 100 fly at 48.44 – a mark that still stands two years later.

Among the roster of 18 is 14 men and 4 women – noteworthy because the South African Olympic roster in pool swimming had 11 men and not a single woman.

See Also:

• The State of Female Swimming in South Africa, with Karin Prinsloo
• Jonty Skinner reflects on South Africa’s Olympic Trials, Gender Gap

Full Invited Roster for 2016 Short Course World Championships: