It was a day of comebacks at the Bombela Concession Company SA Swimming Championships in Gqeberha on Friday as six more Commonwealth Games qualifying times were achieved by the country’s top swimmers.
Both Pieter Coetzé and Calvyn Justus dipped under the qualifying mark in the 50m freestyle heats on Friday morning. While the race was more of a fun outing for Coetzé, whose primary focus remains the backstroke events, it carried far greater weight for the 30-year-old Justus. His swim marked a significant milestone in a comeback from a devastating back injury that left him unable to walk for a year.
“I went through a pretty bad back injury, took five years away from the sport. And when I healed up, I just wanted to do something with my body again,” explained Justus, who swam 21.97 seconds in the morning and 22.36 for his second place behind Coetzé in the evening final. “I got back in the water pretty quickly, fell in love again and thought, let me give it one more go.
“I herniated three discs, which pinched my sciatic nerve… I lost like 20 kg. It was one of the lowest points in my life but when I healed from that, I had a lot of motivation to get stronger and to use my body as much as I could,” added Justus, who works as a fashion designer in Los Angeles and said the fact that the next Olympic Games will be hosted in his home city in 2028 was also a major motivating factor in his return.
Coetzé, meanwhile, was thrilled to have competed against a swimmer he used to watch on YouTube as a kid.
“When I was starting to swim and I wasn’t on any teams or anything special like that, I would watch Calvyn’s videos on YouTube. He was a YouTube vlogger and he had some great videos on the trips they did, training tips, and representing South Africa and stuff. So that’s the first thing I told him when I saw him,” said the 21-year-old who won the 50m freestyle title in 22.04 seconds after achieving a qualifying time of 22.29 seconds in the morning heat.
TRIUMPHANT RETURN FOR VAN NIEKERK
There was also a triumphant return for Lara van Niekerk, who missed last year’s National Championships after suffering a back injury of her own. The 2022 double Commonwealth Games champion swam a 50m breaststroke qualifying time of 30.52 seconds in the morning heats before going quicker in the evening to take the title in 30.50. She was especially pleased after missing out on the qualifying time in the 100m breaststroke.
“After the 100, I was a bit upset and didn’t really enjoy that one as much as I would have wanted to, just having that expectation on me ever since I swam the 1:05 and then all the injuries and sickness that I just really struggled to get there again. But I just spoke to my coach and he just reminded me that the 50 has always been my thing and to go enjoy that one and do my best.”
There were two Commonwealth qualifiers in the men’s 50m breaststroke with both Chris Smith and defending champion Michael Houlie booking their tickets to the Glasgow Games. The duo achieved the required mark in the morning heats and then did it again in the evening, Smith taking the title in 26.68 seconds with Houlie second in 26.96.
“I knew I just needed that good dive, and if I was in front of Michael, I knew I had the speed to stay in front,” said Smith afterwards.
Friday’s other qualifier was Caitlin de Lange, who also achieved the qualifying time for the 50m freestyle in the morning heats (24.77) and went slightly quicker in the evening, winning in 24.74 seconds.
“I was super happy this morning with that time… it kind of took the pressure off,” she said afterwards. “I wanted to go a little bit faster [tonight] but other than that, I’m happy.”
Other winners on Friday were Kris Mihaylov, who added to his 200m freestyle title with victory in the 200m butterfly in 1 minute 58.61 seconds, while Leigh McMorran took the women’s 200m butterfly title in 2:14.45. Matthew Caldwell added the men’s 800m freestyle title to his 1500m gold, winning in 8:03.69, while Callan Lötter took the women’s title in 8:41.13.
In the events for Para swimmers, Kat Swanepoel wrapped up her championships with another national and continental record in the S5 50m backstroke. Having already bettered the mark in the morning heat, Swanepoel went even faster in the evening, finishing in 47.76 seconds.
“I was really chuffed… To take the African record in the heat this morning was awesome, and then to come back and do it in the evening and lower that time was even better,” said the former world champion. “I think the best feeling is knowing there’s still so much to work on and I’m so excited about what’s still to come.”
COMMONWEALTH GAMES QUALIFIERS ACHIEVED AT THE BOMBELA CONCESSION COMPANY SA SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026:
Aimee Canny: 200m freestyle, 100m, 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley
Pieter Coetzé: 50 & 100m backstroke, 50m &100m freestyle
Kaylene Corbett: 200m breaststroke
Cailtin de Lange: 50m freestyle
Erin Gallagher: 100m butterfly
Michael Houlie: 50m breaststroke
Calvyn Justus: 50m freestyle
Rebecca Meder: 200m individual medley
Chris Smith: 50m breaststroke
Jessica Thompson: 50m backstroke
Lara van Niekerk: 50m breaststroke
Ruard van Renen: 50, 100m backstroke