Is swimming abroad different to at home?

Have you ever wondered about letting your swimming take you on new adventures? Maybe to far flung places? Owen Van Renen from South African Masters swimming tells us about their recent National Championships where a few British Masters took part.

More than 500 competitors in Pretoria

South African Masters Swimming has just concluded their 34th South Africa Masters Nationals Swimming Championships in Pretoria, South Africa.

More than 500 competitors from all over South Africa, Great Britain, Namibia, Botswana and the Ukraine took park in what has proven to be an outstanding success.

Many records were set from world to regional, and personal bests by so many.

With swimmers from ages 20 – 89, it was ‘fun, fitness and understanding’ personified.

The spirit that Masters swimming has developed over the years here in South Africa, was in true evidence.

The weather was typical tropical style – hot days, some balmy nights and lots and lots of sunshine. It was wonderful to host GB swimmers, especially our loyal supporters, Grace Isaacs and Jane Asher who visit us frequently.

The standard was very high with many South African Masters records tumbling. However, two results stood out with excellent performances and they were two world records, both set by Cape Town Masters relay teams.

Dianne Coetzee, Cecilia Stanford, Edith Ottomann and Sanderina Kruger set a new WR of 2:19.90 in the 4x50m Medley Relay in the 240+ age group, and in the 4×50 Freestyle Relay in the 240+ age group a new WR of 2.00.75.

Next year in March 2019, the event will be held in Port Elizabeth, commonly known as ‘the Friendly City’. We would love nothing more than too see many more GB Masters swimmers participate in 2019.