29 April 2011
A GROUP of 10 Namibian swimmers impressed at the Level 1 Gala in Kimberley in early April.
The group, aged between 11 and 16, are from the Oranjemund SandSharks club and were accompanied by coach Anleh Burger, who guided them to 21 medals and a fourth-place finish.
The swimmers competed against 30 different clubs from all over South Africa including the top swimming provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. The Namibian swimmers competed in 69 individual events and four relays, reaching 43 finals and setting many personal bests along the way.
The weather at times played havoc on the competition and some finals had to be swum the next day, which put extra pressure on the young swimmers.
Nonetheless the group showed tremendous character and did their best under the circumstances.
Hein Profijt (14) was the best of the Namibian swimmers. He brought home three gold medals – in the 200m individual medley, 200m backstroke, 50m freestyle – and two silvers for 200m backstroke and 50m butterfly as well as a bronze for 50m backstroke.
Another standout performer was Louis Burger, who collected gold medals in the 200m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, 100m breaststroke and 50m breaststroke. Burger also got a silver medal in 100m butterfly to complete his total haul of five medals.
Jacob Wasserfall was another who impressed. He got one gold medal in the 50m butterfly event and two bronzes for the 50m backstroke and 200m backstroke.
Geneva Hanstein managed to bag two medals – a gold in the 50m butterfly and bronze for 50m freestyle – while Janine Karsten won a silver medal in the 200m backstroke.
SF Karsten received two bronze medals, one for 200m freestyle and the other in 50m breaststroke.
The team got bronze in the 4 x 100m freestyle and the 4 x 100m medley relays, and managed to obtain bronze in both.
AllAfrica – All the Time