GOGGLES . . . speedo . . . swim cap . . . and loads of endurance and determination – all for a chance to qualify for the Olympic Games.
The annual South African Open Water Swim Champs will take to the salt water canals at Marina Martinique in Jeffreys Bay from March 7 to 8 – seeing top swimmers from across the world compete in the 10km, 7.5km, 5km and 3km events.
The event will splash off with the 10km swim at 09:00 on Sunday, March 7.
Leading the charge is Olympian swimmer, Chad Ho, who has the fastest qualifying time of 1.49.37. He will be chased by Danie Marais, who has a qualifying time of 1.50.14.
Fellow Olympian, Michelle Weber, who won the 5km event at the 2019 Open Water Swim Champs at Marina Martinique, has the fastest qualifying time for the women’s 10km event (1.56:25). Weber’s primary threats will come from Robyn Kinghorn and St Francis Bay local, Amika de Jager.
De Jager, a former winner of the Marina Mile, will be a crowd favourite and will be determined to swim well in front of her home crowd.
The 10km event will be swum by the 3km men and multi-disability men swim at 12:00.
At 13:00, the 3km and multi-disability swims for women will take place, followed by the mixed relay at 15:00.
On Sunday, March 8, the 5km men’s race and 5km disability swim for men will leave the starting blocks.
The 5km women’s race and 5km disability swim for women will take to the water at 11:00.
The gruelling 10km event, is the official Olympic distance and the winner will most likely represent South Africa at the Olympic Games in Japan in July this year.
The event, presented by Zsports Events on behalf of Nelson Mandela Bay Aquatics (NMBA), is open to the public and residents are encouraged to support the best South African swimmers as they battle it out for the top position.
