No 'Fab Four' for World Champs
Brad Morgan
7 July 2005
Swimming South Africa shocked many when they announced their decision not to enter a men's 4x100 metres freestyle relay team for the World Championships in Montreal, which take place from 16 to 31 July.
For most South Africans, the enduring image of the 2004 Athens Olympics is that of Roland Schoeman, Darian Townsend, Lyndon Ferns and Ryk Neethling - the "Fab Four" - destroying the challenge of the powerhouse Dutch, American and Australian teams to win gold in world record time.
Unfortunately, there will be no chance of a repeat performance in Montreal.
Swimming SA (SSA) President Jace Naidoo said the matter was discussed extensively, with a number of factors involved in making the decision not to enter a team. Once it is explained, the decision appears well thought out.
Ferns unavailable
The first reason, Naidoo said, was the unavailability of Lyndon Ferns. He is studying at Arizona University in the
US, following in the footsteps of Neethling and Schoeman.
According to SSA performance manager Rushdee Warley, Ferns withdrew from the team some time ago because of study commitments.
The form of Townsend was also not considered up to scratch. It was felt he did not perform well at the recent national championships in East London. In addition, in his most recent outing, Townsend clocked 53.19 seconds, well off the sub-51 seconds times he was turning in with consistency in 2004.
Alternatives
Also considered for the team were Gerhard Zandberg and Karl Thaning, who lost out to Townsend in a swim-off for the fourth spot in the team in Athens. They were asked to achieve minimum times of 51 seconds. Zandberg didn't come close, managing a time just over 54 seconds, while Thaning narrowly missed it, clocking 51.27.
Naidoo explained that, taking the combination of these factors into account, SSA decided it was not happy with the medal
potential of the relay team.
It was also felt that entering a relay outfit would negatively affect the medal chances of Neethling and Schoeman in other events; both are considered very strong medal candidates in individual events.
That argument appears well founded. Schoeman won Olympic gold, silver and bronze in Athens, while Neethling was the star of this year's FINA World Cup Swimming Series, recording 21 victories and taking the overall title.
SA squad
The South African squad consists of 12 swimmers, made up of seven men and five women, which is very encouraging when one considers that not one woman was selected to swim in the Olympics last year.
Naidoo reckons it is a nice mix of youth and experience. He points out that half the team swam at the Commonwealth Youth Games, which is an indication that the sport is doing well in encouraging and bringing through young talent.
In addition to the swimmers competing in the
pool, three men - Kenneth Smith, Shaun Diaz, and Tyrone Venter - have been selected to take part in open water swimming, while Jenna Dreyer is the sole diving representative. South Africa has also entered a men's water polo team.
SQUADS
Swimming
Men: Roland Schoeman, Ryk Neethling, Jean Basson, Thabang Moeketsane, Garth Tune, Mark Randall, Troyden Prinsloo
Women: Amanda Loots, Melissa Corfe, Chanelle van Wyk, Susan van Biljon, Tamaryn Loubscher
Open Water Swimming
Kenneth Smith, Shaun Diaz, Tyrone Venter
Diving
Jenna Dreyer
Water Polo
G Bannatyne, R Bell, S Daley, R Diesel, D Flatcher, M Killian, P le Roux, B Manson, K Niehaus, K O'Brien, A Stewart, B Varrie, D Woods.
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