South African women’s swimmers set two further African Records at the World Short Course Swimming Championships, but neither of the finishes were sufficiently fast to quality for event finals as the meet wrapped in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday, 15 December, 2024.
The women’s 4x100m medley relay team of Milla Drakopoulos, Lara van Niekerk, Rebecca Meder and Jessica Thompson set a new African record of 3:57.68 on their way to sixth place in the morning heats, unfortunately their heats finish was not quick enough to qualify for the evening final.
Earlier on Saturday, Caitlin de Lange was in action after booking a place in the women’s 50m freestyle semifinals with an African record of 24.14 seconds on her way to second place in her morning heat. She went slightly slower in the semifinal however, finishing eighth in 24.21 seconds.
Also in action was Hannah Pearse, who finished eighth in her heat and 24th overall in the 200m backstroke in 2:08.41.
Earlier, in Saturday results, De Lange was in action after booking a place in the women’s 50m freestyle semifinals with an African record of 24.14 seconds on her way to second place in her morning heat. She went slightly slower in the semifinal however, finishing eighth in 24.21 seconds.
In the women’s 50m breaststroke on Saturday, Lara van Niekerk, who claimed silver at the last World Short Course Championships in Melbourne two years ago where she set the African record of 29.09, missed out on a semifinal place after finishing eighth in her heat and joint 23rd overall, in 30.36 seconds.
The SA mixed 4x100m medley relay team of Ruard van Renen, Rebecca Meder, Chad le Clos and De Lange finished sixth in their heat in 3:37.71 to miss out on a place in the evening final.
The World Short Course Championships came to an end with only Rebecca Meder having reached finals in her events among South African women swimmers, and she was the pick of Team South Africa’s overall successes, having progressed to the finals of all four of her events.
Focus now switches to the long course (50m) pool with the SA National Championships set for April 2025, and the World Championships in Singapore, scheduled from 27 July to 3 August, 2025.
Daily Wraps at the 2024 World Short Course Championships in Budapest, Hungary
10 December Meet Preview
11 December Day 1 Wrap
12 December Day 2 Wrap
13 December Day 3 Wrap
14 December Day 4 Wrap
Women Participants in the South African Team
Cailtin de Lange (50, 100m freestyle)
Milla Drakopoulos (100m backstroke)
Stephanie Houtman (800, 1500m freestyle)
Rebecca Meder (100, 200m breaststroke, 100, 200m individual medley)
Jaime Mote (100m butterfly)
Hannah Pearse (200m backstroke)
Hannah Robertson (4x200m freestyle relay)
Jessica Thompson (50m butterfly, 50m backstroke)
Lara van Niekerk (50, 100m breaststroke)
Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere for Swimming SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The women’s 4x100m medley relay team of Milla Drakopoulos, Lara van Niekerk, Rebecca Meder and Jessica Thompson won another African Record as the World Short Course Championships concluded in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday 15 December, 2024. Photo: Wayne Riddin
Photo 2 Caption: The sole SA woman to reach event finals at the World Champs was Rebecca Meder, who top performed for Team South Africa’s, reaching finals of all four of her events. Photo: World Aquatics
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