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Johannesburg -Swimming SA (SSA) have assembled a strong team
for the FINA World Championships from July 19 to August 4 despite having to
adjust their selection criteria.
The team, which was named in Johannesburg on Thursday, would be spearheaded by
world record holder Cameron van der Burgh and fellow London 2012 Olympic
champion Chad le Clos.
World bronze medallist in the 50m backstroke Gerhard Zandberg and Athens
Olympic gold medallist Roland Schoeman further strengthened their chances of
claiming silverware.
The team was larger than expected after various mishaps occurred at the SA
Swimming Championships in Port Elizabeth. Of primary concern was the Newton
Park swimming pool, which turned a shade of green and saw the six-day gala
reduced to four.
SSA president Jace Naidoo said the trying conditions forced the selectors to
make allowances as the event traditionally doubled-up as trials for major
international events.
"The forthcoming world championships will be our first major test after
the Olympic Games and, as a result of the challenges around the pool, the
executive asked the selectors to reconsider the selection criteria,"
Naidoo said.
"It is a good squad we've come up with and which we also had to consider
for preparations, not only for the Rio Olympics, but also for the Commonwealth
Games next year.
"There is a combination of youth and experience in the squad and we are
hoping for the youngsters to start coming through."
The men's team also included rising distance star Myles Brown, Leith Shankland
(freestyle), Michael Meyer (medley), Darren Murray (backstroke) and Giulio
Zorzi (breaststroke).
SSA selected a youthful eight-member women's team with Karin Prinsloo the only
Olympian among them.
Olympic finalist Suzaan van Biljon had been plagued by injury and ill-health
since the Games but could still claim a place during the Mare Nostrum series
next month.
Four teenagers were included - Vanessa Mohr (18), Tara Nicholas (17), Kyna
Pereira (17) and Marlies Ross (15) - with an eye to the future.
SSA had made a decision not to select swimmers for the non-Olympic events - 50m
breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke - but the inclusion of Zorzi and
Zandberg suggested they had changed their mind.
Zorzi qualified for the world championships in the 50m breaststroke, while
Zandberg met the standard in the 50m backstroke.
SSA high-performance manager Dean Price said while the Olympics were a
priority, they were needed to look ahead to next year's Commonwealth Games in
Glasgow.
"Our primary focus is on two events and that is the 2014 Commonwealth
Games and the Olympic Games in 2016. We believe Gerhard Zandberg and Giulio
Zorzi are very strong medal contenders for the Commonwealth Games," Price
said.
"Gerhard is obviously a strong contender for a medal at these world
championships in the 50m backstroke as he's medalled at four previous world
championships.
"We hope he will step-up into our medley relay team. We've always had a
shortcoming in the 100m backstroke because we have Cameron in the breaststroke,
we now have Chad in the butterfly and we have Roland swimming at the top of the
world at the moment."
The Open Water team would be the first to compete on July 20 when Michelle
Weber, Chad Ho and Troyden Prinsloo took to the water in the 5km race.
Weber, Clarice le Roux, Ho and Prinsloo would also be in action in the 10km
event.
SA Swimming team:
Women: Jessica Ashleigh-Cooper, Trudi Maree, Vanessa Mohr, Tara Nicholas, Kyna Perreira, Karin Prinsloo, Marlies Ross, Rene Warnes.
Open Water: Men 10km: Chad Ho, Troyden Prinsloo. Men 5km: Chad Ho, Daniel Marais. Women 10km: Michelle Weber, Clarice le Roux. Women 5km: Michelle Weber, Kyna Perreira
Open Water: Men 10km: Chad Ho, Troyden Prinsloo. Men 5km: Chad Ho, Daniel Marais. Women 10km: Michelle Weber, Clarice le Roux. Women 5km: Michelle Weber, Kyna Perreira
