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Excellent performances at Swimming Grand Prix at Coetzenburg
Author: Pia Nänny
Published: 01/03/2017

South Africa's swimming hero Chad le Clos showed excellent form in the 200 m butterfly event at the Swimming Grand Prix held at Coetzenburg over the weekend when he shaved 0.06s off his meet record of last year to win the race in a time of 1:56.54.

Le Clos indicated before the event that his goal for the year is to qualify for the 2017 FINA World Championships in Hungary and regain the 200 m butterfly title. Le Clos won the Olympic title in this event in 2012 and the world championships title in 2013. However, at the 2015 FINA World Championships Le Clos was pushed into second place by Hungarian Laszlo Cseh and at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio Le Clos had to settle for fourth place as Michael Phelps took gold.

Le Clos also has his eyes set on the 200 m freestyle and 100 m butterfly world titles. He won both these events in Stellenbosch this weekend in times of 1:48.38 and 52.83 respectively.

"I'm very happy to be racing here for the third time – it's always a fun day and there were some good performances," a satisfied Le Clos said after the event. He believes Stellenbosch has one of the best facilities in the country. It was the third time that a Grand Prix event was hosted in Coetzenburg's state-of-the-art Olympic-size swimming pool.

Another Olympian, Cameron van der Burgh, touched the wall first in the 100 m breast stroke but said that the Grand Prix was more about preparation for the SA National Aquatic Championships in April than about winning. The national championships will serve as a qualifying event for the FINA World Championships.

"What makes this event special, is the opportunity to meet the fans and see their excitement about swimming," he said.

Third-year BCom student Emma Chelius was the pick of the Maties swimmers. She won the 50 m and 100 m freestyle and 50 m butterfly events.

Rhenish Girls High learner Inge Weidemann came second in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle and third in the 50 m butterfly events while another Rhenish Girls High learner, Kiara Noades, came second in the 50 m and 200 m back stroke events, and third in the 100 m back stroke.

Marli Jacobs, a fourth-year BEd student, was third in the 100 m as well as the 200 m butterfly events while BCom student Bryce Pendock was third in the 50 m freestyle event.

Maties swimmers John Maree, Stephano Roodt, Michelle Nieuwstad and Max Kieser also reached the finals of their respective events.