Swimming | Team SA at the Para Swimming European Open Championships
Some amazing performances from Team SA at the Para Swimming European Open Championships happening in Madeira from 21 - 27 April 2024. This is the first time that South Africa has been afforded this amazing and unique opportunity to swim at this event that only comes around in a Paralympic cycle. Here are your results:
Day 1:
• Team SA started off with a historic 3 swim Final on Day 1 – Nathan Hendricks being the first SA swimmer through to the Finals with Christian Sadie and Kat Swanepoel following.
• Nathan finished 8th in the 100m Fly Finals, setting a new PB.
• Christian finished 2nd to claim the Silver medal in the 200m IM Finals with a new African Record time and nearly 3 seconds faster than a week ago at the SA Nationals.
• Kat finished 3rd in the 50m Breast event earning her a Bronze medal.
Day 2:
• Nathan swam an African Record time in the 100m Breast event and managed 1st Reserve. He also beat his own SA and African Record set at the SA Nationals a week ago by nearly 2 seconds. Unfortunately, all the Finalists showed up and he didn’t get a chance to improve on his morning swim.
• The Vyncke Family became the first family in the history of SA to have sisters in the same Final, swimming in Lane 7 and 8 next to each other at a major international event.
• Danika gave herself an amazing Birthday present, placing 4th in a PB time and cracking another MQS time. Her sister, Ivana placed 8th. Nevertheless, history was made.
Day 3:
• Kat made it through to the Finals of the 150m IM event.