Three more Commonwealth Games qualifiers made it a total of four women swimmers to have achieved the required times by the close of business on day 2 of the Bombela Concession Company SA Swimming Championships in Gqeberha on Wednesday, 15 April 2026.
The women’s 200m individual medley proved to be the highlight of the evening, producing a massive battle between the in-form Aimee Canny and defending champion Rebecca Meder.
Meder had already dipped just under the Commonwealth Games qualifying time by one hundredth of a second in the morning heats, finishing in 2:12.82. After a thrilling duel in the evening final, it was Canny who was the quicker of the two, claiming the title to add to her 200m freestyle and 100m breaststroke golds from the opening night of competition in a time of 2:10.90 with Meder second in 2:11.29 – both well under the qualifying time.
“That was a really exciting race. I knew coming into it, it was going to be really fun tonight.”
Triple Commonwealth Games Qualifier, Aimee Canny
“I knew Rebecca was going to be there the whole way of that race and it was really fun to kind of swim with her, and I knew we were in it together,” said Canny.
While happy to have qualified, Meder wasn’t too happy with her time. “I wanted a 2:10. But I don’t even think I’m fully tapered coming into this competition. The goal was just to get the job done… it’s been good.”
In the women’s 50m backstroke, it was 18-year-old Jessica Thompson who added her name to the list of Commonwealth Games qualifiers. The national record holder also already achieved the qualifying time in the morning heats, with a mark of 27.94 seconds, and then went quicker in the evening final, taking the title in 27.79 seconds.
“I think it was such a relief, like I was really worried about getting that qualifying time.”
50m Backstroke Commonwealth Games Qualifier, Jessica Thompson
“I’ve got it a few times throughout the season,” said Thompson, “So I think just getting it in the final and the prelim was a big relief and a big help for me.”
Meanwhile, Erin Gallagher also added her name to the list of Commonwealth Games qualifiers, powering to victory in the 100m butterfly in 57.36 seconds, just four hundredths of a second off the SA and African record she set at the National Championships in 2024.
“I had no idea what I was going to swim tonight. So to see a 57-low is very surprising and I’m very happy about that.”
“[My coach] Rocco said, ‘Whatever you do tonight, you have to go under 58.’ So I was like, ‘If I don’t, I’m walking home.’ So I’m very glad that I went under the 58!”
100m Butterfly Commonwealth Games Qualifier, Erin Gallagher
In the Para events, Kat Swanepoel celebrated another national record. Having claimed SB4 50m breaststroke and S5 100m backstroke records on the opening night of competition, the former world champion set another new SA mark in the S5 50m freestyle on Wednesday in 44.04 seconds.
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“Last Nationals and many times in the last year I didn’t think I was making it back. I’ve really battled my health, and just so many challenges,” explained Swanepoel afterwards.
“But the love of swimming kept me going through it. It was just to come down not expecting the times… or to be bogged down by that, but just celebrate life, just having breath in you and being able to do something that I love.
Triple Para Event National Record Breaker, Kat Swanepoel
“And that was the biggest goal, so to be able to be swimming good times, I mean you just can’t ask for more than that,” said Swanepoel
Commonwealth Games Qualifiers at the Bombela Concession Company SA Swimming Championships 2026
Aimee Canny: 200m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley
Erin Gallagher: 100m butterfly
Rebecca Meder: 200m individual medley
Jessica Thompson: 50m backstroke
Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere for Swimming SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Commonwealth Games qualifiers Rebecca Meder (left, 100m Butterfly) and Aimee Canny (200m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and 200m individual medley) pictured after Canny won the 200m IM race, at the Bombela Concession Company SA Swimming Championships 2026 in Gqeberha on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Jessica Thompson made double sure, hitting the 50m backstroke qualifying mark in both the morning heats and even quicker in the evening final.
Photo 3 Caption: Erin Gallagher was very happ to add her name to the list of Commonwealth Games qualifiers, powering to victory in the 100m butterfly.
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