National Swimming Championship underway
The Bank Windhoek Namibia National Swimming Championship kicked-off this week and will run until Sunday 28 February at the Olympia municipal pool.
Swimming fanatics and spectators can look forward to seeing Namibia’s only physically challenged female swimmer, Caitlin Botha, in action. The Dolphin’s Club swimmer, was born with Cerebral Palsy (CP), but this has not deterred heras she has been competing for the last four years in with the help of her dedicated coach, Adriaan Maritz.
As there are currently no other disabled swimmers taking part in the Namibia Swimming Union’s (NASU) monthly galas, Caitlin must currently compete against the able bodied swimmers.
On Thursday, the long distance event such as 400m Individual Medley, 200m Butterfly, 800m Freestyle (Women) and 1500m Freestyle (Men) kick-started the championships.
The Friday session will start at 15:00 with the 50m Butterfly, 400m Freestyle, 9-10 year old 100m Breaststroke, Open 200m Breaststroke and all the 100m Backstroke events. One of the most exciting events is the 200m Freestyle Open relay which will be the last event on Friday.
Meanwhile, the official opening ceremony will take place on Saturday at 08:00. The first swimming event will start at 08:30 with the 50m Breaststroke, followed by 200m Backstroke, 100m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly events. During the afternoon session that starts at 14:00 there will be the 50m Backstroke, 200m Freestyle, 100m Breaststroke and lots of exciting relays to watch.
Sunday morning’s event will start at 08:20 with another favourite event, the 50m Freestyle followed by the 200m Individual Medley. The rest of the morning will be dedicated to relays. “We are looking forward to some great action from our senior swimmers as well as our juniors. An average of 145 swimmers will take part with 1 321 individual splashes ahead of them,” said Bettina Steffen, President of the Namibia Swimming Union.
“We wish the swimmers best of luck in their efforts to always improve. Please come support and cheer our swimmers along at this prestigious event. NASU would also like to thank Bank Windhoek for their continuous sponsorship during the long course swimming season. We would also like to commend all the parents who are willing to be officials,” Steffen added.
