Chris Smith’s swimsuit tore moments before his 50m breaststroke final at the SA Short Course Championships over the weekend, but his determination shone through as he secured a spot on the South African team for the World Short Course Championships.
Durban, South Africa (30 September 2024) – Some of life’s most remarkable moments and achievements can often be preceded by awkward or even humorous incidents. Promising swimmer Chris Smith is no stranger to this phenomenon.
In spite of ripping his swimsuit right before the 50m breaststroke final, the 18-year-old swiftly made a change and owned the pool, becoming the sixth South African swimmer to reach a world championship qualifying time at the SA Short Course Championships in Durban on Saturday.
Smith’s impressive finishing time of 26.68 seconds earned him a spot on the team for the World Short Course Championships, which will take place in Budapest, Hungary, from 10 to 15 December.
“I think it warmed me up a little bit because I had to jog to the bathroom and come back. I was quite confident coming in because this morning my stroke rate was slow, so I just picked it up tonight,” shared Smith in a Swimming South Africa report.
Other standout performances included Ruard van Renen, who qualified for multiple events, and Rebecca Meder, who secured her place in the 200m individual medley.
Even veteran Chad le Clos, a seasoned swimmer, faced challenges but ultimately achieved his goal of qualifying for the World Championships in several swimming events.
The SA Short Course Championships concluded on Sunday and were a testament to the resilience and dedication of these athletes – something worthy of our pride and applause!
Sources: Swimming South Africa
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