NMU aquatics pros, Melinda Goosen and Cheryl Kotze, are poised to lead their swimming squads to a successful run at the prestigious World University Games taking place in Germany next month.
Gqeberha, South Africa (19 June 2025) – Melinda Goosen and Cheryl Kotze, two prominent figures in aquatics from Nelson Mandela University, are making waves on the international sporting scene! In fact, one could say their international careers are going “swimmingly” following their appointment to manage the university’s aquatics team at the World University Games set to take place in Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr region from July 16 to 27!
For Goosen, the university’s swimming manager, this marks her fifth appearance at the “premier international event for student-athletes,” and the excitement is as fresh as ever as she takes on the new challenge of heading up the four-member diving squad.
“It’s a massive and spectacular occasion,” she said.
“I’ll never forget the moment Tatjana Schoenmaker won Team South Africa’s first medal at the Games. It captured the spirit of the event and remains one of my fondest memories.”
The diving role is a new one for Goosen, who is already burying herself in logistics to ensure a seamless team experience.
“I’m really excited about the talent among the divers. It’s only the second time we have had divers in the squad.”
Besides logistics, both her and Kotze’s roles entail everything from ensuring athletes stay aligned with training programmes to submitting crucial documentation to the local organising committee.
Kotze, an administrator at the swimming club, will be managing the men’s swimming team, returning to the global stage after her unforgettable experience at the 2023 Games in China, where she witnessed firsthand the thrill of an “Olympic-like experience.
“It was as close to the Olympic experience as you could get,” she recalled.
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“Walking into the packed stadium behind the South African flag as Chinese president Xi Jinping opened the ceremony is a moment I’ll never forget.”
Those Games proved highly successful for the South Africans, with the swimmers earning seven of their 20 medals.
Preparations by the Madibaz pair started as far back as last September.
“We’ve made monthly presentations to the USSA high-performance committee, followed by one-on-one sessions with head coaches and the swimming committee,” Kotze explained.
“Now that the team have been selected, the real work begins.”
She also praised the support received from University Sports SA.
“There’s a dedicated team we can turn to at any time. Their support has been invaluable. It really does take a village.”
Kotze will work alongside coaches Marco Markgraaff from Kovsies and Keenan Riffel of Tuks, both of whom were also part of the 2023 delegation.
“The three of us know each other well and work seamlessly together. That strong team dynamic makes a huge difference when you’re competing on the world stage.”
Sources: Supplied
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