Sport

SA swimmers on World Cup high

Brad Morgan

23 November 2009

Kathryn Meaklim destroyed the women's 400 metres individual medley world record and Cameron van der Burgh successfully defended his overall title as the 2009 Fina/Arena World Cup series finished in Singapore on Sunday.

Meaklim's swim astonished everyone, Meaklim included, as she blasted through Mireia Belmonte Garcia's previous record, slicing 2.24 seconds off that mark with a time of two minutes, 22.88 seconds.

"I'm really happy," Meaklim told SAinfo. "I didn't think I could ever go that fast. I just think everything came together really, really nicely."

She revealed that during her swim she realised she was on course for a top performance: "During the backstroke, I could see the scoreboard, so I knew what time I was doing after the first 50 in the backstroke.

'My team was going crazy'

"And then, during the breaststroke, my team (South Africa) was going crazy, and during the freestyle the whole stand was waving me on, so I knew I was heading for something special, but my time – 4:22 – I didn't think I could do something like that, and I am just absolutely ecstatic."

Meaklim also excelled in the 200 metres breaststroke, lopping three seconds off her previous best, to win in 2:20.52 and defeating world record holder Liesel Jones in the process. Fellow South African Ronywn Roper placed fifth.

In addition, Meaklim also picked up second in the 200m individual medley and was second in the 800m freestyle in an African record of 8:25.47.

Van der Burgh, for the second time in the World Cup series, was beaten by Roland Schoeman in the 50 metres breaststroke. Schoeman clocked a fast 25.58, with Van der Burgh turning in a time of 25.76.

The world record, however, was back on the winning trail in the 100 metres, leading a South African one-two ahead of Neil Versfeld in 56.25. Versfeld went on to finish second in the 200m breaststroke too.

Van der Burgh finished with 163 points in the men's overall standings, with Schoeman in second on 131, and Peter Marshall, who improved his world record in the 50m backstroke with a time 22.61, in third.

'Great Christmas'

Van der Burgh, who told the Fina website that he is now looking forward to a "great Christmas", was rewarded with a cheque for US$100 000 – more than R750 000. Schoeman took home $50 000 for his second place.

Apart from his win in the breaststroke, Schoeman also placed second in the 50m freestyle in 20.89 seconds. Nicholas Dos Santos took victory in 20.75. The Brazilian also edged out Schoeman for the win in the 50m butterfly.

Darian Townsend was South Africa's most successful swimmer in Singapore, winning three titles and finishing second in a fourth event.

"A lot of people here have been talking about this being the last one and they're keen to get back home, but I could go on for another five [meets]," Townsend told SAinfo.

"It's been a lot of fun and I think if you're swimming well it does end a little too early. For me, it has been like that, but it has to come to an end some time."

Outstanding results

Townsend was second in the 100 metres freestyle and won the 200m freestyle (1:41.65), the 100m individual medley (52.11), and the 200m IM (1:52.49).

His win in the 200m IM was by more than four seconds over second-placed Leith Brodie, and it was indicative of the kind of dominance Townsend enjoyed in the event during the World Cup, the highlight of which was a win over American superstar Michael Phelps in Berlin.

"Beating Michael Phelps was a great thing, a great achievement," Townsend said. "Obviously, I realise he probably wasn't at the top of his game when I did it, so the next time we race, which will probably be in the States or next year at the World Short Course Championships, he definitely will be back, and it will be tougher to beat him again."

He continued: "A lot of other countries have come up to us and said the South Africans are swimming so well, keep it up, and it's really comforting when you have all your team-mates around you swimming so well.

Outstanding results

Townsend also paid tribute to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) for throwing its weight behind swimming and said the results of the investment are plain to see. He said: "All credit to Sascoc, our Olympic committee. They've come to the fore since July this year, after the World Championships and that's been great. They've been trying to help us out with funding and they've funded this whole trip for all the South Africans. It's been good and it's nice to have them on board."

Veteran Mandy Loots, now 31, showed that she is far from finished when she set a South African record of 2:04.24 in the 200m butterfly, which was good for second place. She claimed silver in the 200m backstroke too, clocking 2:05.01.

There was an excellent second place for Garth Tune in the 100m butterfly. Australia's Michael Patterson took the win in 49.51, with Tune touching in 50.36, ahead of Geoff Huegill.

Other results

Apart from the superb performances by the big name swimmers, there were a number of lesser known South Africans who excelled.

Jay Cee Thomson claimed third in the 200m individual medley, which was won by Darian Townsend, while Wesley Gilchrist was fifth. Thomson was also sixth in the 200m freestyle.

Terence Parkin, who only recently returned to competitive swimming at 29 years of age, placed fourth in the 1 500m freestyle in a deaf world record of 15:31.55. He also set deaf world records in the 50m butterfly, 100m breaststroke, and 200m freestyle.

Ronwyn Roper finished fifth in the 50 and 200 metres breaststroke, and sixth in the 100 metres race.

Jessica Ashley-Cooper placed seventh in 50m backstroke, sixth in the 100m, and fourth in the 200 metres.

As one of South Africa's top coaches, Wayne Riddin, pointed out, not only did South Africa's stars excel, but swimmers like Ashley-Cooper improved considerably against top opposition. Given the opportunity, the country's top swimmers have proved they can compete with, and beat, the best.