Tuks' swimmers showcased the rewards of dedication and determination at the 2025 South African National Swimming Championships in Gqeberha, collecting an impressive haul of 64 medals.

Leading the charge was none other than Pieter Coetzé, who delivered a series of standout performances. He secured qualification for the Singapore 2025 World Aquatics Championships in three events: the 50m freestyle, as well as the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke. To top it off, Coetzé also claimed gold in the 100m freestyle, underlining his dominance in the pool.

"Mission accomplished. I just wanted to qualify and get it done. It would have been nice to be a bit faster… But I think I'm in a perfect spot for this time of the year because I also don't want to peak now. I want to go overseas and perform there, so I think this is a perfect base, and things look good," says the two-time Olympian.

Duné Coetzee claimed her fourth title of the championships on Sunday, making her the most decorated of the female swimmers. She won the 200m, 400m, and 80m freestyle events as well as the 200m butterfly. Coetzee was third in the 50m butterfly. With her times in the 400m and 800m freestyle, she exceeded the B-qualifying requirement for the World Championships.

“I'm so, so happy with that swim. I would have liked to go a little bit faster and try and get a best time, but I'm really happy with how that went, and I felt like I executed the race how I wanted to,” said Coetzee, who is flying back to the University of Georgia to complete her final exams in sports management before returning to South Africa to train at Tuks.

Erin Gallagher qualified for the World Championships in Singapore in the 50m butterfly. She did so in the heats.

“I was very, very happy. I remember touching the wall, turning around and seeing a 25.9, and just saying, ‘Thank you, Jesus,’ because I had no idea how it was to go,” said Gallagher, who missed out on qualifying in the 100m butterfly on Saturday.

“The year after the Olympics is very much an experimental year. You have no idea what's going to happen, what's going to go down; your body is still kind of recovering from the hectic training leading up to the Games, so we just said this year we’re going to try new things, see what works, see what doesn't work,” she added.

Kaylene Corbett qualified in the 200m breaststroke for the World Championship. She, however, still has to decide whether she will compete, as she is busy with her honours and is rebuilding for the 2028 Olympic Games

“Being at the start of a new Olympic cycle, it’s good for me to be in a place where I’m still qualifying and still doing the times even though I’m not as rested as I would have liked to have been,” she said.

In the events for swimmers with a disability, Danika Vyncke and Nathan Hendricks achieved qualifying times for the World Para Swimming Championships.

Tuks medalists

Gold – 24:
Dune Coetzee 200m freestyle - 1:59.09; 200m butterfly 2:14.74, 800m freestyle 8:38.08, 400m freestyle 4:11.29; Danika Vyncke 100m-backstroke 1:17.36 (S13); 50m-breaststroke 38.24; Pieter Coetze 100m-backstroke 52.71, 50m backstroke 24.78, 100m freestyle 48.63, 50m freestyle 22.45, 200m backstroke 1:56.07; Caitlin de Lange, Erin Gallagher, Hannah Mouton and Hannah Robertson x100m freestyle relay 3:45.69; Pieter Coetze, Aiden Bornman, Giano dos Santos, Arno Kruger - 4x100m freestyle relay - 3:25.60; Catherine van Rensburg 1500m freestyle 16:39.99, Nathan Hendricks (S13) 100m butterfly 59.23; 50m freestyle 25.11, 100m breaststroke 1:11.75, 100m freestyle 54.11, Erin Gallagher 100m freestyle 54.94, 100m butterfly 58.51,Matthew Randle 200m breaststroke 2:15.27, Caitlin de Lange 50m freestyle 25.31,Pieter Coetze, Armand Landman, Aiden Bornman, Owethu Mahan - 1:30.48, Hannah Pearce - 200m backstroke 2:13.13.

Silver - 20
Nathan Hendricks (S13) - 100m backstroke 1:03.02, 200m individual medley 2:15.54, Godfrey Blake, Anandt van Rensburg, Aiden Godfrey, Tumelo Mahan - 4x100m freestyle relay 3:25.77, Kian Keylock 200m individual medley 2:03.34, Cameron Casali 200m individual medley 2:05.08, 400m individual medley 4:29.12, Danika Vyncke (S13) 50m freestyle 29.79, 50m butterfly 33.56, 100m breaststroke 1:25.47, 100m freestyle 1:05.04, 200m individual medley 2:51.60, Kaylene Corbett - 200m breaststroke 2:24.70 W Q, 50m breaststroke 31.26, Hannah Pearce, Corne van Schalkwyk, Tazmyn Roboson, Lise Coetzee - 4x200m freestyle relay 8:20.60, Erin Gallagher - 50m freestyle 25.31, Catherine van Rensburg 800m freestyle 8:44.48, Adrian van Wyk - 800m freestyle 8:07.72, Caitlin de Lange, Xandri Fourie, Johanna Buys, Tori Voke - 4x50m freestyle 1:43.85, Hannah Robertson - 400m freestyle 4:15.94, Ronan Theron, Chris Smith, Tai-Lee Pearson, Owethu Mahan - 4x100 medley relay 3:44.23.

Bronze - 18
Kaylene Corbett 100m breaststroke - 1:07.99, Matthew Randle 100m breaststroke - 1:01.82, 
Georgia Els 200m individual medley 2:19.53, 50m breaststroke 31.92, Leigh McMorran 200m butterfly - 2:15.48, Godfrey Blake, Tumelo Mahan, Caitlin de Lange, Hannah Robertson - 4x100m freestyle mixed relay, Caitlin de Lange - 100m freestyle 55.77, Matthew Goller - 400m individual medley 4:29.12, Sofia French - 400m individual medley 5:03.60, Danika Vyncke (S13) - 50m backstroke 39.90, Ruben Smit - 50m breaststroke 28.13, Erin Gallagher, Julie Landman, Elle-May Claasen, Rachel Groepes - 1:45.57, Kerryn Herbst, Shaun Thomas, Benjamin Plattner, Hannah Mouton -4x100 mixed medley relay, Helgard Muller - 200m backstroke 2:01.79, Dune Coetzee - 50m butterfly 27.83, Ronan Theron - 50m butterfly 24.48, Callan Lotter - 400m freestyle 4:17.21, Hannah Pearce, Jenna-Laine Fuller, Hannah Mouton, Caitlin de Lange - 4x100m medley relay 4:19.95, Helgaard Muller, Matthew Randle, Benjamin Plattner, Aiden Bornman - 4x100 medley relay 3:45.87.