SSA hits back at swimmers

Johannesburg - Swimming South Africa (SSA) officials have struck out against allegations that they are not supporting elite swimmers in the build-up to next year's London Olympic Games.

"We have tried our best in difficult financial times to support all our swimmers who are performing," SSA president Jace Naidoo said on Saturday.

"We do realise that while we hope that all those selected will perform, there are those who pick up injuries or get sick at the wrong time which affects their performances.

"I do feel the targeted group of swimmers are on track to do their best in London next year."

Gerhard Zandberg, who picked up one of only three SA medals at the Fina World Championships in Shanghai, China, in July, warned last week that SSA was in danger of facing a mass exodus of elite swimmers.

"We don't rely on the federation anymore and we are making our own plans to scrape funds together," Zandberg said at the SA Short Course Championships in Bedfordview.

"I believe many of our local swimmers will go overseas in the next 10 years."

SSA officials defended themselves by saying that approximately 56 percent of the national squad were based locally.

South Africa finished 25th with three bronze medals in Shanghai - the team's worst placing at the global championships since they returned empty handed from Perth, Australia, in 1998.

Two of the events in which they secured medals - the 50m backstroke (Zandberg) and the 50m breaststroke (Cameron van der Burgh) - will not be on the programme in London.

SSA, however, said they were working hard with the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) in a redemption attempt after the nation failed to win a medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

"SSA and SASCOC have supported the swimmers more over the last three years than previous cycles before the Olympic Games," the swimming body said in a statement.

The federation said swimmers had been sent to compete in Spain and Barcelona in the build-up to the world championships, and had also been on a week-long training camp in Singapore.

"Support was provided to qualifying swimmers immediately after the 2008 Olympics," SSA said.

"Budgets were requested from swimmers who had achieved the top 16 in the world and a number of swimmers and coaches received this benefit."

"This support was reviewed at the end of 2010 in accordance with SASCOC's policy against world rankings.

"Understandably, those who had retained the appropriate world rankings also retained the support from both SSA and SASCOC."

The national governing body said more than R4 million had been set aside this year for swimmers who formed part of SASCOC's Opex programme, which is geared towards preparing athletes for the Olympics.

A group of swimmers will also travel to London at the end of August, SSA confirmed, to assess conditions and facilities in the English capital.

National head coach Graham Hill said South Africa's elite swimmers had all been told what was expected from them in order to receive financial assistance.

"The swimmers are fully aware of what they need to achieve, and when, to be supported," Hill said.