Wessel Oosthuizen/SASPA
Three-time Olympic medalist Roland Schoeman will be in Gqeberha this week to compete in the SA National Championships starting on Wednesday.
The 42-year-old sprinter has not competed at the national event since 2016 and will be competing against Chad le Clos who is 11 years his junior.
According to a statement, Le Clos, who will aim to qualify for the World swimming championships in Japan this year, will be swimming in a new event, the 100 free, for which he has been training for at his base in Germany.
“The 100 free is a new event which I’ve been working quite hard on recently but understanding that it’s still a process,” said Le Clos, who turns 31 on the opening day of the competition.
“I think it’s going to be quite exciting. It’s great that Roland’s back, it’s really amazing that he’s still swimming at his age and I think he’s going to be good.
Swimming South Africa says two teenagers who took last year’s Commonwealth Games by storm, Lara van Niekerk and Pieter Coetze’ will also be competing in the event this week.
They were named Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year at the SA Sports Awards.
The Championships will wrap up at the Newton Park swimming pool on Sunday.
