Veteran Chad le Clos will head the medal charge as an otherwise youthful team heads to the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Budapest this week.
The 12-time World Short Course champion has set his sights on bettering American Ryan Lochte’s record tally of medals won in individual events at the competition which stands at 23. Le Clos’s current total is 19, having added two gold medals to his collection the last time the championships were held in 2022 – in the 100 and 200m butterfly.
While he’s not entirely confident of defending both titles, the former Olympic champion is determined to reach the podium in Budapest.
“My goals are to obviously get as many medals as I possibly can,” said Le Clos on arrival in the Hungarian capital. “I’ll try my absolute best to win the 200 [butterfly], but in saying that I'll be very happy with any medal.
“The 100 fly is going to be exceptionally hard even to podium, so I think it's one of those where I have the potential to win it for sure, but realistically speaking it would be great to get on the podium there,” added the 32-year-old star.
Le Clos is set to compete in the 100m freestyle and the 50, 100 and 200m butterfly.
The only other swimmer in the current SA team to have reached the podium last time out is Lara van Niekerk. The 21-year-old is still on the comeback trail after a back injury, however, so a repeat of her 50m breaststroke silver could be unrealistic.
“I have no expectations going into short course,” she explained. “I'm going with the mindset of just enjoying what I'm doing and just having fun with the team. We are a very nice team going together, and then let's just see what I can do. Training has been going well, so I'm very excited to race for the last time in 2024.”
MEDER EXCITED TO END THE YEAR ON A HIGH
Also part of the team is two-time Olympian Rebecca Meder who impressed in the one leg of the World Cup series where she competed, in Shanghai, picking up three bronze medals.
“I've been working hard after Paris leading into this,” she said. “I'm excited for this next part of my journey, and to try and finish off 2024 with a bang. I'm going to give it my all and try my very best like I always do and we'll see.
“I surprised myself a little bit at the World Cup and that fire is always lit so I'm super excited,” added Meder who will compete in the 100 and 200m breaststroke and the 100 and 200m individual medley.
Another exciting young prospect in the team is Ruard van Renen who pushed Le Clos all the way at the SA Short Course Championships in Durban a few months ago. The US-based mechanical engineering student’s main focus is the 100m backstroke, but he’ll also be competing in the 50m event as well as the 50 and 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly.
“October has probably been the most work I’ve done in the pool my entire career,” reckoned Van Renen. “The weight room was no exception as me and my teammates have been pushing each other to our absolute limits.
“I’m extremely confident going into this meet… As this is one of my first major international meets I’m going in with the expectation of giving it my all, aiming for the stars and hoping to make some semis and finals and establishing a name for myself in the world of swimming.”
An added incentive for the swimmers taking part is the total of US$2.16 million on offer in prize money which goes to the top eight finishers in each individual and relay event with a $25 000 bonus up for grabs for breaking a world record.
Swimming action gets underway on Tuesday, 10 December and continues until Sunday, 15 December.
SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM:
WOMEN: Cailtin de Lange (50, 100m freestyle), Milla Drakopoulos (100m backstroke), Stephanie Houtman (800, 1500m freestyle), Rebecca Meder (100, 200m breaststroke, 100, 200m individual medley), Jaime Mote (100m butterfly), Hannah Pearse (200m backstroke), Hannah Roberston, Jessica Thompson (50m butterfly, 50m backstroke), Lara van Niekerk (50, 100m breaststroke)
MEN: Michael Houlie (50m breaststroke), Kian Keylock (400m individual medley), Arno Kruger (400m freestyle), Chad le Clos (100m freestyle, 50, 100, 200m butterfly), Kris Mihaylov (200, 800, 1500m freestyle), Matthew Randle (200m breaststroke), Chris Smith (50, 100m breaststroke), Ruard van Reenen (50, 100m freestyle, 50, 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly)