WINDHOEK – All together one hundred and eighty seven (187) swimmers took part in the 3rd edition of the annual Bank Windhoek Long Course Swimming Gala and Aqua pentathlon at the Olympia swimming pool in Windhoek last weekend.
The gathering attracted 93 swimmers in the long course gala competing in 516 races with 94 swimmers in the aqua pentathlon contesting 449 races. The gala was well attended, despite other competing sporting activities that took place around the capital at the same time. Swimmers recorded excellent times during the competition last Friday, with some recording close to their personal bests early in the year. “This is very promising and inspirational for coaches all over the country. It’s a certainty that swimmers will excel at galas in South Africa this year,” said Rentia Meyer, media officer of the Namibia Swimming Union (NASU). One of the best performers of the day was Heleni Stergiadis in the 200m breaststroke where she stroked a four (4) second personal best time. Corne le Roux managed a massive 21-second personal best for his effort in the 400m individual medley. The aqua pentathlon is unique, since the swimmers are required to swim all five disciplines.
The 8-year age group of swimmers were required to compete in the 50m freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke and the 200m individual medley. The older swimmers had to compete in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly and the 200m individual medley. The times were added to together and the swimmer with the fastest overall time became the overall winner.
The Ludorum winners of the aqua pentathlon were as follows:
Junior Boys:
Krynauw Weber (Namib Swimming Academy) (NSA),
Junior Girls:
Corley Viljoen (Dolphins Swimming Club),
Senior Boys:
Lushano Lamprecht (Namib Swimming Academy),
Senior Girls:
Antonia Roth (Namib Swimming Academy).
The winners for each age group were:
8-year Girls:
Corley Viljoen (Dolphins),
8 year Boys:
Nico Esslinger (Dolphins),
9-10 year Girls: Tiana Esslinger (Dolphins),
9-10 year Boys:
Krynauw Weber (NSA),
11-12 year Girls: Zuné Weber (NSA),
11-12 year Boys:
Ronan Wantenaar (NSA),
13-14 year Girls:
Kiara Schatz (NSA),
13-14 year Boys:
Ricardo Richter (Dolphins),
15-16 year Girls:
Antonia Roth (NSA),
15-16 year Boys:
Lushano Lamprecht (NSA),
17-18 year Girls:
Danika Bader (Dolphins),
17-18 year Boys:
Jörn Diekmann (NSA)
Special mention should be made of disabled swimmer Caitlin Botha (16) of Dolphins. Caitlin swam all five (5) events and had a wonderful finish by completing the 200m individual medley. NASU congratulates Caitlin on her achievement. The next Bank Windhoek Gala will be held on February 28.
By Staff Reporter