Three swimmers from Zambia (headed up by Mark Thompson), 16-year-old Daniela Lindemeier (Namibia), Monica Bernardo (Mozambique), Pina Ercolana (Kenya), four swimmers from Zimbabwe and Quenton Du Pont from Swaziland are in Rome for the 13th Fina World Swimming Championships. Not bad for an institution that has yet to see 10 years.

That means that seven countries including South Africa will represent Tuks Swimming and the hpc. For Daniella (Namibia), who will be swimming in the 50/100 and 200m breaststroke, the hpc and Tuks are the best opportunity to further her career in swimming, as Namibia do not offer all the facilities necessary.

Zimbabwe’s Tim Ferris will be lining up in the 50 and 100 freestyle and Butterfly. Tim has improved in leaps in bounds through hard training, culminating in huge improvements in December at the African Swimming Championships (a total drop of 20 seconds over 8 events). Kirsten Lapham is another who has sky rocketed in her performances after making her first senior nationals this year in April and now representing Zimbabwe at the World Champs.

Although none of them are expected to medal, it is testament to the work ethic, expertise and knowledge at Tuks Swimming and the hpc that they are at the World Championships in the first place. Africa is traditionally a soccer first continent, with athletics second in importance and the rest of the sporting codes need to pick up the crumbs on offer.  Their participation in Rome therefore speaks volumes.