Swimmers have over the weekend put in some great performances and broke seven records during the Bank Windhoek Long Course Gala finals in Windhoek 

Lorenzo Esterhuizen, who contested in the 11 to 12-year-old category of the junior age groups, broke the 200 metre (m) backstroke record, setting a new time of 2:27.62 seconds. 

He also broke the 100m backstroke record in 1:10.21. 

Oliver Durand broke the 13 to 14-year-old category 1 500m freestyle record in 18:08.73. 

Masters’ swimmers were also in excellent form, with Ilona Sickel from the 45 and over category setting the 50m freestyle record in 32.84 and the 400m freestyle in 5:46.21. 

Francois van der Westhuizen set records in the 50m breaststroke in 36.57 and the 100m breaststroke in 1:23.76.

Oliver Durand scored the most International Swimming Federation (FINA) points – 543, making him the best performing swimmer at the event. 

He was closely followed by Reza Westerduin and Arkell Wellman – both scoring 541 FINA points.

Sponsored by Bank Windhoek and hosted by the Namibia Swimming Federation (Nasfed), the event had swimmers from Aqua Swimming and Fitness, Dolphins Swimming Club, Marlins Aquatic Club and Phoenix Swimming Academy. 

“We are delighted with the performance of the swimmers,” said Nasfed’s executive committee member Nicky McNamara, who thanked Bank Windhoek for its unwavering support.

Nasfed president Aileen Botha was pleased with the turnout and the competitive spirit of all the young and old swimmers. 

“There are no boundaries to swimming,” she said, adding: “We had a group of swimmers preparing for the Region 5 championship that will start this week in Lesotho. It was, therefore, a good weekend for all involved”.

The next Bank Windhoek Long Course Gala will take place in January 2022.