The best Masters swimmers from around the country will be in action from today as the South African Masters National swimming championship gets under way at the Joan Harrison Swimming Complex.
Four exciting days of masters swimming is on the cards as 495 entrants, 116 of who will represent host club Amakhosi Masters, will battle it out for top honours.
On the local front Brett Peterson and Tazlin Birch are expected to be Amakhosi’s top competitors on the men’s and women’s sides.
Petersen is a former Olympian, making it to the breaststroke final of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, finishing seventh.
This is a fantastic opportunity on our back doorstep,” said Petersen.
“I wasn’t quite sure if I was going to compete this year but a few mates twisted my arm and now it is a great opportunity to go out and have some fun.”
He has also captained the SA team at the All-Africa Games and has competed in various competitions all over the world including the Commonwealth Games.
This will be Petersen’s third Masters competition.
“I am looking forward to the breaststroke races, although the old legs don’t work as well as they used to, so it might be a bit rusty at the start but it should be quite exciting,” said Petersen.
“But there is going to be some strong competition in many of the age groups, so we should be in for some exciting racing.”
Birch was Amakhosi’s best swimmer at last year’s Masters event and she will be looking to put in another sparkling performance this year to add to her growing medal cabinet, despite the fact that she is in the early stages of pregnancy.
Other top Amakhosi swimmers will be Michael Swartz, who has been to the deaf Olympics and was the club’s top male swimmer at last year’s masters, while Shaun Barson is in line for his SA colours and will be gunning for that.
Impressive performances are also expected from out of province competitors in the form of Tim Shead from Cape Town, who is a Swimming Hall of Fame inductee, and he may be in among the records.
As could Edith Otterman, also from Cape Town, who could set a world-class time in the 50m freestyle and butterfly events.
Great Britain’s Jane Asher is also a major contender and could look to break some world records in the 85-89 age group.
Last time Amakhosi Masters hosted the nationals in 2009 they claimed 52 golds, 58 silvers and 53 bronze medals in a great showing.
At last year’s nationals in Durban it was Cape Town Masters Swimming Club (MSC) that emerged as the overall winners, with Coelacanth MSC from Pretoria in second and Durban’s East Coast MSC finishing third.
CT Masters and Coelacanth will be expected to challenge again for top honours, but Amakhosi will definitely in the mix as they aim to win their home event.
The action gets under way this morning at 10am, with the 800m events first up.
A break in swimming will happen at 3pm with the opening ceremony, after which the action will resume with the exciting sprint events.