Le Clos & Van Der Burgh Punch World Champ Tickets On Day 1 Of SA Nationals
Le Clos & Van Der Burgh Punch World Champ Tickets On Day 1 Of SA Nationals
Olympic gold medalists Cameron van Der Burgh and Chad le Clos qualified for the 2017 FINA World Championships at the 2017 South African Nationals in Durban in the 100m breaststroke and 100m freestyle, respectively.
The opening night of the 2017 South African National Aquatic Championships on Monday in Durban, South Africa, saw two Olympic gold medalists secure spots in the 2017 FINA World Championships, which is being held in Budapest, Hungary, in late July.
Cameron van Der Burgh, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 100m breaststroke, dipped under the FINA "A" time standard of 1:00.35 in the same event in the semifinals Monday with a solid 1:00.07. Van der Burgh showed off some impressive speed in this race, splitting 27.88 on the way out and bringing it home in 32.19. Although he has been 58-mid numerous times since 2012, his lifetime-best time is still 58.46 from the London Games. Van der Burgh will swim in the finals Tuesday and certainly look to dip under the 1:00 barrier at the least.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSb0k67DcSm/?taken-by=cameronvdburgh" hide_caption="0"]
Although he did not swim in an individual event on day one, Chad le Clos -- 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 200 fly and infamous ready room shadow boxer -- popped off a 48.64 (23.50)(25.14) in the 100m freestyle to lead off the Western Cape Aquatics 4x100 freestyle relay. The squad ended up getting disqualified; however, le Clos' time will still stand as he was not the swimmer guilty of the infraction. His time of 48.64 is clearly under the FINA "A" time standard of 48.94
Le Clos is primarily known for his success in the butterfly events -- he was even a strong IM'er earlier in his career, finishing fifth in the 400 IM in London -- but in the past few years he has made a serious shift in the freestyle events. With an Olympic silver medal in the 200m freestyle from Rio on the shelf, you can be certain le Clos will be a contender in Budapest in July.
Individually at the South African Nationals, le Clos will swim the 200m freestyle on Tuesday (finals on Wednesday), 200m butterfly on Wednesday (finals on Thursday), 100m freestyle on Thursday (finals on Friday) -- although having already recorded the "A" time standard for worlds, he could choose to opt out -- and the 100m butterfly on Friday (finals on Saturday).
Cameron van Der Burgh, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 100m breaststroke, dipped under the FINA "A" time standard of 1:00.35 in the same event in the semifinals Monday with a solid 1:00.07. Van der Burgh showed off some impressive speed in this race, splitting 27.88 on the way out and bringing it home in 32.19. Although he has been 58-mid numerous times since 2012, his lifetime-best time is still 58.46 from the London Games. Van der Burgh will swim in the finals Tuesday and certainly look to dip under the 1:00 barrier at the least.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSb0k67DcSm/?taken-by=cameronvdburgh" hide_caption="0"]
Although he did not swim in an individual event on day one, Chad le Clos -- 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 200 fly and infamous ready room shadow boxer -- popped off a 48.64 (23.50)(25.14) in the 100m freestyle to lead off the Western Cape Aquatics 4x100 freestyle relay. The squad ended up getting disqualified; however, le Clos' time will still stand as he was not the swimmer guilty of the infraction. His time of 48.64 is clearly under the FINA "A" time standard of 48.94
Le Clos is primarily known for his success in the butterfly events -- he was even a strong IM'er earlier in his career, finishing fifth in the 400 IM in London -- but in the past few years he has made a serious shift in the freestyle events. With an Olympic silver medal in the 200m freestyle from Rio on the shelf, you can be certain le Clos will be a contender in Budapest in July.
Individually at the South African Nationals, le Clos will swim the 200m freestyle on Tuesday (finals on Wednesday), 200m butterfly on Wednesday (finals on Thursday), 100m freestyle on Thursday (finals on Friday) -- although having already recorded the "A" time standard for worlds, he could choose to opt out -- and the 100m butterfly on Friday (finals on Saturday).