However, the highlight so far was the performance by TuksSwimmer (Speedo SA- and hpc-sponsored) Karin Prinsloo who raced to a new SA record (African record to be confirmed) in the women's 100 m freestyle event with a time of 54.97, breaking the previous record of 55.17 (set up at the 2008 Olympic Games by former TuksSwimmer Lize-Marie Retief – now a third-year student of medicine at the University of Pretoria). Karen’s record-breaking time has inched her within 0.4 seconds of the Olympic qualification time of 54.57 seconds. Earlier in the week, Karin had two solid performances in the 100 m backstroke and 200 m freestyle events. Tonight’s final will provide Karin with an opportunity to see if she can dip under the Olympic qualification time. We hold thumbs!

Also in this morning’s heats, Darren Murray, a BSports Science student at the University of Pretoria and sponsored by Speedo SA and hpc, finished in second place overall in qualification for tonight’s 200 m backstroke final, where he will try to dip under the Olympic qualification time. Based on his performance in the 100 m backstroke event earlier in the week where he swam a personal best time, we are excited about the prospects for Darren in the 200 m backstroke, his main event.

The pressure on the swimmers having to set up two Olympic qualification times, as required by SwimSA and SASCOC, could be proving a challenge for some, especially those trying to qualify for their first Olympic Games. The pressure of having to perform at SA Nationals and Olympic trials from 16t-22 April in Durban is already placing huge stress on the swimmers.

Vanessa Mohr, who celebrates her 17^th birthday today, also participated at the British Nationals with a solid performance in the 100 m butterfly a few days ago. She has already done her first Olympic qualification time at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, and will need to repeat that performance at the SA Olympic trials in April.

TuksSwimming hopes to have a few swimmers representing their countries at the 2012 Olympic Games. One of these is three-time Olympian (2004 multiple medallist) Roland Schoeman, who is close to doing his first qualification time in the 50 m freestyle event, as well as 2008 SA Paralympian Emily Gray, who has already dipped under the qualification times in three events, and is currently in hard training in preparation for her Paralympic trials in April.