The final instalment of the Bank Windhoek Long Course Gala for the year will take place this coming weekend at the Western Suburbs Municipal Poo in Windhoek. The event will see contestants from Aqua Swimming Club, Dolphins Swimming Club, Marlins and Phoenix, compete in 850 events.
Swakopmund and Oranjemund will simultaneously host their the Bank Windhoek Long Course Gala in their respective towns. Results from all three events will be combined in the end to determine the final outcomes.
With over 126 swimmers preparing for this weekend's event, Bank Windhoek proudly looks back on a year where Namibian swimming was taken to new heights not only locally, but internationally too.
Records broken abroad
In September, six Namibian swimmers competed in the 13th Confédération Africaine de Natation's (CANA) Junior African Championships in Tunisia. Swimmers competed in age groups of 13 to 14 and 15 to 16 years old. The team comprised four female and two male swimmers, namely, Mikah Burger, Hannah Murphy, Trisha Mutumbulua, Jose Canjulo, Mackenzie Spath and Maya Stange.
Canjulo broke eight Namibian records and was on the podium eight times as well. He attained the following results:
Gold Medal and Namibian Record
- 50m Backstroke - 28.67sec
- 400m Freestyle - 4:14.45
Silver Medal and Namibian Record
- 100m Backstroke - 1:01.47
- 200m Individual Medley - 2:13.82
Bronze Medal and Namibian Record
- 50m Freestyle - 25.56sec
- 100m Freestyle - 55.62sec
- 200m Freestyle - 2:02.03
- 100m Butterfly - 59.73sec
In August, Ronan Wantenaar, Heleni Stergiadis, Tiana Esslinger and Corne Le Roux, represented Namibia at the 7th Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) World Junior Swimming Championships in Hungary. At this prestigious event, Ronan Wantenaar managed to break five Namibian Records:
- 50m Backstroke 26.99sec
- 50m Breaststroke 29.35sec
- 200m Individual Medley 2:07.47
- 100m Backstroke 57.75sec
- 100m Breaststroke 1:03.75
“We also had a Masters Swimmer, 60 year-old Cheryl Young. She made it to the podium five times with two silvers and three bronze medals in the FINA World Masters Swimming Championships, held in Gwangju, South Korea in July. Young has also just returned from the Xterra World Champs in Hawaii where she was placed second in her age group," said NASU's Executive Committee Member, Nicky McNamara, who added that swimming has been doing well over the years.
During the year, NASU, as part of its community awareness programme held water safety talks and developed television animations that was aired on television locally.
“The level of swimming is now world class. We are proud of our swimmers and grateful to all the clubs, committee members and parents that give of their time to make our events happen. Thanks to our sponsor, Bank Windhoek, who is instrumental in what we have been able to achieve," concluded McNamara.
“Bank Windhoek congratulates all the swimmers who put in great performances during international tournaments. The results indicate that in terms of development, the sport is heading in the right direction. Our association with the sport now stretches over six years and we are proud of the results," said Bank Windhoek's Executive Officer of Marketing and Corporate Communication Services, Jacquiline Pack.
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