JUNIOR SWIMMING ON THE UP

By Paul Martin

The 2010 CANA Zone 3 & 4 Championships held in Nairobi, Kenya last weekend has taken the standard of junior swimming to new levels with 320 swimmers having competed for medals and team points.

While Zimbabwe came out on top in the combined points category with 244 points – just eclipsing hosts Kenya (237.5) – the quality performances and number of entrants at the annual event is a sign of much progress since the inaugural championships were attended by five countries back in 2004.

Head of the CANA Zone 4 Secretariat, Jace Naidoo, who is also the President of Swimming SA, said that a new standard has been set and the level and interest in swimming at junior levels in Africa is expected to increase even further when the 2011 edition of the event takes place in Botswana next January. Mozambique will host the 2012 CANA Zone 3 & 4 Championships, Zambia in 2013 and Uganda has put in a bid to provide a venue for the 2013 event.

"It was pleasing to see a country like Mauritius making their debut at the CANA Zone 3 & 4 Championships and also to see the fine performances delivered by the host country Kenya," said Naidoo.

" I attribute the success of the Kenyans in aquatics to not only having been the host nation of the championships but also with their young swimmers aspiring to follow in the footsteps of their Olympic swim star Jason Dunford, who is a role model in Kenyan sports circles."

The Kenyan women’s team held off a strong challenge from SA to top their respective point standings with 130.5 points compared to the 121.5 of the Rainbow Nation team.

In the men’s category, Zimbabwe dominated to finish on 185 points, with Mauritius next best on 127.

"People often underestimate the swim talent that is available in the African countries and I have no doubt that if the talent of these athletes is nurtured via comprehensive training programmes and support structures, swimmers from Zone 3 & 4 swimming in Africa will be able to hold their heads high against the best in the world in the years to come," said Naidoo.

"Young sports stars aspire to perform like their heroes and much quality black talent was on display at the championships in Nairobi. It is crucial that Africa is able to produce highly competitive and successful black swim role models in order for the youth in the African countries to realise the importance of swimming as a skill and the enjoyment that can be derived thereof."

An example of this was SA’s Maselela Molepo, competing in the 17 years and over age group, who has returned home to the Limpopo Province having posted championship record times in the 200 metres butterfly, 200 metres breaststroke and 200 metres individual medley.

He also won further gold in the 100 metres breaststroke, 100 metres butterfly and 100 metres backstroke. Molepo claimed silver in the 50 metres breaststroke and 50, 100 and 200 metres freestyle, plus a bronze in the 50 metres butterfly.