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2019 African Male Swimmer of the Year: ZANE WADDELL, South Africa

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Your 2019 African Male Swimmer of the Year, South African Zane Waddell, had a breakout year in 2019. The 21-year-old progressed quickly from SEC Champion, to NCAA Champion, to World University Games champion, all the way to World champion in just 5 months.

Photo via Rafael Domeyko

At the 2019 SEC Championships, Waddell contributed to Alabama’s title-winning 200 medley relay, thanks to his #2 all-time 50 back lead-off split (20.22). He also won an individual title in the 100 back (44.77). Just a month later, Waddell joined teammates Laurent Bams, Knox Auerbach, and Robert Howard to win the 200 medley relay NCAA title (1:22.26).

Zane Waddell (photo: Jack Spitser)

After the NCAA season, Waddell switched to representing his home country of South Africa at both the 2019 World University Games (WUGs) and 2019 World Championships. During his WUGs run, Waddell and American Justin Ress had a buzzworthy battle in the 50 back, both trading off holding the Universiade meet record. During the 50 back final, Waddell and Ress tied for the gold medal.

Yet Waddell’s biggest moment of 2019 was at the World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. During the 50 back final, Waddell surprised the entire world when he became a World champion out of lane 2 and upset Russians Evgeny Rylov and Kliment Kolesnikov.

With the win, Waddell becomes the only swimmer besides Chad le Clos to win the award in its 7-year history.

BY NICK PECORARO (SwimSwam)

Home Interviews Proudly South African Sports Wrestling

Gold Coast 2018 -Johannes Petrus Botha

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Hanru Botha is proudly part of Team SA who will represent our beautiful nation at the Commonwealth Games 2018 at the Gold Coast in the code of  wrestling. He speaks with gratefulness and honour about his selection and is eager to represent South Africa. Hanru is a born champion and has been training with “Coach Dad” since the age of 3. His has very high standards of excellence and hard work. He gives back to society by inspiring and training the next generation of wrestling champions.

About himself he says “I am a loyal and a hard worker. I want to be a role model for the children I am coaching and want to set an example for young wrestlers. Work ethics is important to me and hard work always pays off”.

 

 

 

 

Athlete: Bio / Stats
Name & Surname Johannes Petrus Botha
Nick Name Hanru
Date of birth 9 October 1989
Place of birth Pretoria
Current City Naboomspruit
Height 1.75m
Weight 76kg
Shoe Size UK9
Club Brave Wrestling
Coach’s Name Rudi Botha
Out of Country events Africa Wrestling Champs
Secondary Sports MMA
Favorite City DURBAN
Sponsors PrimalFit
Twitter and Instagram names, facebook name Hanru Botha
Parents Names, siblings Rudi Botha(Father), Pierre Botha(Identical Twin Brother)

INTERVIEW:

Q: Firstly – you are proudly part of team SA selected for the Gold coast Commonwealth Games. Congrats! What is on your heart and mind right now regarding this big upcoming event?

It is a huge privilege, to wrestle on this level, and I want to make the country proud.

Q: You are passionate and doing so well in your Wrestling, tell me a little bit about how you started in Wrestling and your journey in the Wrestling arena up to now?

I wrestle since I was 3 years old and work hard my whole life. Due to funding, I could not always use the opportunities I had as it is expensive to travel and most wrestling is up North in Africa or Europe. The times that I had the opportunity, I medaled.

Q: Who are you? 

I am a loyal and a hard worker. I want to be a role model for the children I am coaching and want to set an example for young wrestlers. Work ethics is important to me and hard work always pays off.

Photo credits: Hansie Myburgh

Q: Why do you have so much respect for your coach?

My Dad is my Coach and unfortunately he does not allow any space for errors (Lol). He made us train on Christmas days as he used to say “while other people rest you train and they will never catch up again.”

Q: What is the highest accolade that you have achieved in Wrestling, and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?

I was Africa Champ 2007 in Tunisia as a Junior and also a silver medalist on Africa Seniors 2016.

Q: Who inspired you when you were much younger and why?

Bennie Labuschagne was a Springbok Wrestler when as  I was around 10 years old and he set an example, and still does.

Q: Would you like to share a little bit more about your faith journey and how it has affected your life / sports?

Wrestling is not a sport, it is a way of living. It taught me respect for others, discipline and to fight for what you believe in.

Q: So, you are a brilliant sportsman – but name 1 thing that you suck at 🙂.

Live English interviews(lol).

Q: Favourite food and who must cook it ? ?

Braai, my Mom Ashley is the best braaier.

Q: How do you currently manage to balance all the aspects and expectations in your life?

Planning, planning. My family and friends at my club help a lot and also make this possible.

Q: What is your favourite quote?

My quote,  “It is not how good you are, it is how bad you want it”.

Q: What is your definition of success in life?

Believe in yourself.

Q: What’s your WHY? 

I do not drink or smoke, and are proud of my body. I like to show people, what wrestling did for me in my life. To see the small kids train, and getting better, do what I teach them, this is satisfaction that you cannot explain to others. The bond between wrestlers is special, and this sentiment is all over the world. I have been in Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, if you are a wrestler, you share something common with all Nations.

Q: What are you most grateful for at the moment?

I am most grateful for having a Dad like mine. He stands by me, lose or win, as long as I work hard, he will share the disappointments and then we rebuild again. It is actually scary as he coached me since I was three, he will sometimes just make eye contact while I am busy wrestling and I will exactly know what my next move must be. There is a bond between us and I am very grateful for somebody like him.

Thank you so much for taking this interview. We would like to wish you all the best for your journey ahead. We look forward to following you as you go from strength to strength. Blessings!

Home Proudly South African Swimming

Arizona Wildcats’ two-decade run produced some of top male swimmers on the planet

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3 South Africans in University of Arizona Top 10 list of men’s swimmers

During Arizona’s 20-year run as one of the NCAA’s leading swimming powers, 1993-2012, the Wildcats recruited globally to match any of the national contenders.

South Africa. Venezuela. England. Israel. Mexico. France. Brazil.

In 2004, then-UA assistant coach Augie Busch noted the impressive times of a Venezuelan swimming at a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, academy. Albert Subirats had moved to America in part to learn English, get a scholarship to an NCAA school and work toward the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Now, Augie Busch has returned to Tucson — his official press conference is Tuesday afternoon at McKale Center — intent on reopening the global recruiting lanes that helped turn Arizona swimming into a consistent NCAA championship contender.

Here’s our Top 10 list of UA men’s swimmers, which reflects the foreign influence of the Frank Busch years:

1. Ryk Neethling. The South African distance freestyler won nine NCAA individual championships, second in Pac-12 history. He then converted to sprints and helped South Africa win a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the 4×100 freestyle relay.

2. Albert Subirats. A three-time Olympian with six Venezuelan records, Subirats became such a celebrity in his home country that a newspaper headline read “SUBIRATS BRONCE!” – something like ‘‘Subirats is king” – after leading Arizona to the national championship.

3. Kevin Cordes. Although he missed a 2016 Olympic bronze medal by inches, Cordes won six NCAA individual championships at Arizona and has been America’s leader in the breaststroke on and off dating to 2013. He was twice the Pac-12’s men’s swimmer of the year.

4. George DiCarlo. His gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a tip that UA swimming was a rising power. He won two NCAA championships in the 500 freestyle.

6. Simon Burnett. Recruited from Great Britain, Burnett won the NCAA freestyle in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and helped four UA relay teams win NCAA titles.

7. Chad Carvin. America’s 1997 men’s swimmer of the year won two NCAA individual titles at Arizona, set three American records and made the 2000 Sydney Olympics team, assisting on a gold medal relay team.

8. Seth Pepper. Part of Busch’s building years at Arizona, Pepper won the 1993 men’s 100 butterfly and added a second and two third place finishes in the NCAA finals. His brother, Martin Pepper, won the 1996 NCAA 100 butterfly.

9. Mariusz Podkoscielny. The Polish distance swimmer was a standout for Busch’s first UA team after winning the 1989 NCAA title in the 1,650 freestyle. He added a second-place finish in 1990 and a pair of No. 3 finishes in later seasons and became the head coach at Oregon State and Miami of Florida.

10. Darian Townsend. After transferring to Tucson from the Florida Gators, Townsend, of South Africa, won the NCAA title in the 200 freestyle in 2008, was second a year earlier and was part of four NCAA championship relay teams.

by  Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star

Home Proudly South African Sports

2017 Commonwealth Youth Games – 24 July 2017

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A big congratulations to team South Africa on your outstanding performance at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games that were held in Nassau, Bahamas from 19-23 July.

Team SA concluded the Games with a medal tally of 18 medals (eigh gold, three silver and seven bronze) and placed 5th on the overall medal table. Fifteen of the total medals were obtained by athletes from swimming, whilst the other three, which were all bronze came from Judo, Athletics and Boxing athletes.

Team SA  had representation in six of the nine sporting codes that were showcased on the Caribbean island.

The six codes were: Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Judo, Swimming and Tennis.

The Team will be departing from Bahamas on Monday and arriving in South Africa on Tuesday night. We wish them safe travels back home, and once again we congratulate our athletes on a great performance and holding the South African flag up high at the Games.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

Sport Athlete Event Medal
Athletics Boitumelo Mayo 400m Hurdles Bronze
Boxing Siyakholwa Kuse 46-49Kg Bronze
Judo Mosa Thetsane -60Kg Bronze
Swimming Hanim Abrahams 100m Breaststroke Gold
    200m Breaststroke Bronze
  Rebecca Meder 400m IM Silver
    200m Freestyle Bronze
    800m Freestyle Bronze
  Mariella Venter 100m Backstroke Gold
    200m Backstroke Gold
    50m Backstroke Bronze
  Jarryd Baxter 200m Backstroke Gold
    400m Freestyle Gold
    200m Freestyle Silver
  Luan Grobbelaar 200m Breaststroke Gold
  Michael Houlie 100m Breaststroke Gold
    50m Breaststroke Gold
    200m Breaststroke Silver

Medals per Sport

Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total
Athletics     1 1
Boxing     1 1
Judo     1 1
Swimming 8 3 4 15
Total 8 3 7 18

Medals per Demographics

Medal Female Men Black White Coloured
Gold 2 4   5 3
Silver 1 2   3 1
Bronze 3 3 3 2 1

Final Medal Tally

Rank CGA Total
1 England 23 16 12 51
2 Australia 14 14 11 39
3 New Zealand 8 14 9 31
4 Scotland 8 6 7 21
5 South Africa 8 3 7 18
6 Singapore 7 4 6 17
7 India 4 1 6 11
8 Kenya 3 1 0 4
9 Canada

 

 2 7 9 18
10 Wales 2 6 5 13

by Sascoc

Home Proudly South African Sports

2017 Commonwealth Youth Games – 19 July 2017

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Team  South  Africa  competitors  arrived  safely  and  settled  in  the  Bahamas  for  the  2017  Commonwealth  Youth  Games.
The  team  departed  on  Sunday  16  July  after  attending  a  farewell  braai  at  Garden  Court   Isando  on  Saturday   night  and  arrived   on  Monday.   They   are   staying  at   Baha  Mar   a   beautiful  hotel  in  the  city  which  is  in  the  vicinity  of  all  the  competition  venues.
The  Opening  Ceremony  of  the  Commonwealth  Youth  Games  was  on  Tuesday,  18  July   2017  and  the  flag  bearer,  Hanim  Abrahams,  a  gold  medallist  in  both  the  Senior  and  Junior   African  Swimming  Championships,  led  Team  SA.

Beach  Volleyball  
Team  SA’s  Beach  Volleyball  duo  opened  their  campaign  on  Tuesday  18  July  in  a  match   against  Cyprus  at  Malcolm  Park  Beach  Soccer
Facility.  They  lost  their  first  match  to  Cyprus  and  they  will  be  competing  against  the   hosts,  Bahamas  this  afternoon.

DAY  1  RESULTS
Sport     Event   Athlete’s  name     Results/Comment   Beach  Volleyball     Men’s  Twos   Lukholo  Jooste   &  Aviwe   Mamfanya   Lost  to  Cyprus   Judo   Mens 60kg   Musa Thetsane,   He suffered a knee injury during his fight against Bahamas. Second up was Zambia and he lost. 3rd fight he fought against Malawi and he won.

DAY  2  COMPETITION  SCHEDULE  

Swimming

Women 50 Butterfly Prelims 1 F Dune Coetzee

Men 50 Butterfly Prelims 2 M –

Women 200 Freestyle Prelims 3 F Dune Coetzee

Women 200 Freestyle Prelims 3 F Rebecca Meder

Men 200 Freestyle Prelims 4 M Jarryd Baxter

Women 100 Backstroke Prelims 5 F Mariella Venter

Men 100 Backstroke Prelims 6 M Jack Oliver

Men 100 Backstroke Prelims 6 M Laun Grobbelaar

Women 200 Breaststroke Prelims 7 F Hanim Abrahams

Men 200 Breaststroke Prelims 8 M Michael Houlie

Men 200 Breaststroke Prelims 8 M Laun Grobbelaar

Men 1500 Freestyle Prelims 9 M Jarryd Baxter

Women 50 Butterfly Finals 1

Men 50 Butterfly Finals 2

Women 200 Freestyle Finals 3

Men 200 Freestyle Finals 4

Women 100 Backstroke Finals 5

Men 100 Backstroke Finals 6

Women 200 Breaststroke Finals 7

Men 200 Breaststroke Finals 8

Men 1500 Freestyle Finals 9

Tennis Singles
1st Round M
Siphosothando Montsi F Minette van Vreden
Mixed Doubles
1st Round
Siphosothando Montsi Minette van Vreden

Beach Volley

Doubles M Lukholo Jooste Aviwe Mamfanya

by Sascoc

Home Proudly South African Sports

Team SA to Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games

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The  South  African  Sports  Confederation  and  Olympic  Committee  (SASCOC)  have  named  the   team  to  compete  at  the  2017  Commonwealth  Youth  Games  in  Nassau,  Bahamas  from  19-­‐23   July.
The  team  will  have  representation  in  six  of  the  nine  sporting  codes  being  showcased  on  the   Caribbean  island.

The  six  codes  are:  Athletics,  Beach  Volleyball,  Boxing,  Judo,  Swimming  and  Tennis  with  the   biggest  codes  in  terms  of  numbers  being  Athletics  and  Swimming  both  with  a  squad  of  8   representatives  each.
The  Commonwealth  Youth  Games  are  held  every  four  years  and  Team  SA  placed  second  on   the  medal  table  in  the  previous  games  in  Apia,  Samoa  in  2015  with  a  total  of  35  medals.
Ms  Patience  Shikwambana  will  lead  the  team  as  Chef  de  Mission.  “It’s  a  great  honour  to   lead  South  Africa’s  youth  to  the  2017  Commonwealth  Youth  Games  in  Bahamas.
‘The  delegation  leaves  the  shores  of  South  Africa  during  a  month  where  all  South  Africans   and  the  world  celebrate  Nelson  Mandela’s  life  and  legacy.  Mandela  Day  asks  us  all  to  ‘Take   Action,  Inspire  Change  and  make  every  Day  a  Mandela  Day’,  so  to  Team  South  Africa,  go  and   have  fun,  play  fair  and  inspire  more  youth  to  take  action  and  get  involved  in  sport  to  change   their  lives  and  become  better  persons  in  future  through  sport.’

SASCOC  CEO,  Mr  Tubby  Reddy  added:  “Though  we  are  sending  a  lean  team  we  believe  it  is  a   strong  team  who  have  all  met  the  competitive  selection  criteria  and  will  do  the  nation   proud.  Previously  Team  SA  has  performed  exceptionally  at  these  games  and  we  therefore   hope  that  the  same  or  even  better  results  will  be  achieved.“
“The  Commonwealth  Youth  Games,  remain  an  integral  event  for  us  as  future  stars  and   Olympians  rise  from  events  of  such  a  nature,’  added  Mr  Reddy.
The  holding  camp  for  Team  SA  will  take  place  in  Johannesburg  on  15  July  and  the  team  will   travel  to  Bahamas  the  next  day  to  compete  against  the  other  Commonwealth  countries.

The  full  team  is  as  follows:

AQUATICS
Boys:  Michael  Houlie,  Jarryd  Baxter,  Jack  Oliver,  Luan  Grobbelaar
Girls:  Rebecca  Meder,  Hanim  Abrahams,  Dune  Coetzee,  Mariella  Venter,
Manager/Coach:  Bianca  Marais
ATHLETICS
Boys:  Luke  Davids,  Jayson  Weber,  Lindukuhle  Gora,  Adam  Mayo
Girls:  Caroline  Mosime,  Marli  Viljoen,  Keletso  Senosi,  Antoinette  Van  der  Merwe,
Manager  Coach:  Alroy  Dixon
BEACH  VOLLEYBALL
Lukholo  Jooste  and  Aviwe  Mamfanya
Manager/Coach  –  Warren  Sieberts
BOXING
Girls:  Amorie  Gonsalves
Boys:  Sinovuyo  Mtintelwa
Manager/  Coach:  Khangelani  Jack
JUDO
Girls:  Marli  Meiring
Boys:  Mosa  Thetsane
Manager  /  Coach:  Preston  Davids
TENNIS
Boys:  Siphosothando  Montsi
Girls:  Minette  Van  Vreden
Manager  /  Coach:  Charles  Mehlape

GENERAL  TEAM  MANAGEMENT  (GTM)  
Chef  de  Mission:  Patience  Shikwambana,  Athletes  Services:  Jabu  Mabaso,  Logistics:  Adrian   Padayachee
MEDICAL  TEAM:  Dr  Tshegofatso  Gaetsewe      Physiotherapists:  Avilarsh  Lukhan  and  Ashleigh   Hansen

Issued  by  SASCOC

Golf Home Proudly South African Sports

South African Cara Gorlei Earns Academic Honors

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FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas rising juniors Kaylee Benton and Cara Gorlei earned selection to the Women’s Collegiate Golf All-American Scholars team the organization announced today (6 July 2017).

Nominees must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher for their academic career. Benton and Gorlei are the 11th and 12th student-athletes honored for the Razorbacks and represent the 24th and 25th selections for Arkansas since 1997.

“I could not be more proud of Cara and Kaylee for becoming WGCA All-American Scholars and for their commitment to excellence on the golf course and in the classroom,” said Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor. “These young women go above and beyond what they are required to do each and every day and this is a great reward for their hard work. They both have made tremendous contributions to our golf program and they are great examples of winning in all facets of collegiate athletics.”

Gorlei joined the Razorbacks as a freshman for the 2014-15 season and her continued improvement earned the Capetown, South Africa native, a trip to the NCAA Championship as an individual in 2017. Gorlei finished tied for seventh at the NCAA Columbus Regional punching her ticket for the finals.

She finished the year shooting 74.06 with 31 college rounds played as a junior.

Benton transferred to Arkansas from UNLV and immediately contributed to the Razorback program. Originally from the Natural State, Benton played in every event in her first season at Arkansas picking up three top-10 finishes. She and Gorlei have earned selection to the Arkansas Athletics Department academic honor roll in every semester.

Other Razorbacks who have been selected to the WCGA All-Scholar team include MacKenzie Cato (1997), Jennifer Norlien (2004), Gena Johnson (2005), Stacy Lewis (205, 2006, 2007, 2008), Tiffany Phelps (2010), Corinna Rees (2007, 2010, 2011), Victoria Vela (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), Emily Tubert (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), Emily Podzielinski (2012), and Gabriela Lopez (2013, 2014, 2015).

 

 

Harrison Daily.com

Africa Home Sports Tennis

South Africa: Three SA Players Gear Up for Junior Australian Open

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South Africa will have three players to keep tabs on at the Junior Australian Open in Melbourne later this month.

The three-pronged representation means it’s the largest South African boys group in recent years.

Photo Credits – Outsider Communications

The SA challenge will be spearheaded by South Africa’s and Africa’s highest world ranked junior, Joshua Howard-Tripp of Gauteng East. Joining Howard-Tripp (pictured above)  are Sipho Montsi of Gauteng North and Philip Henning of Free State.

Howard-Tripp is ranked 83rd on the world junior boys singles rankings with Montsi ranked 108th and Henning at 187th. Henning was part of Team South Africa at the recent AUSC Region 5 Games Under-20 event in Luanda, Angola where he reached the final against fellow South African Richard Thongoana.

All three boys have represented South Africa in team competition on the international stage. Howard-Tripp was part of South Africa’s junior Davis Cup team in 2015.

After Australia, all three boys will travel to Tunisia to represent South Africa in the Under-18 African Championships there and no doubt will battle hard to be crowned African champion.

Richard Glover, Tennis South Africa (TSA) CEO, wished the South African boys all the best in Melbourne. ‘As part of our new vision, TSA are planning to reintroduce a squad system that will give support to our rising stars in junior Grand Slam events.

‘TSA are happy to be able to give some assistance to the three boys in Melbourne as a kick start of this programme and are confident they will do themselves and their country proud.’

 

Source – http://allafrica.com/stories/201701110683.html

 

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