Proudly sponsored by LFP Training, SA’s Down Syndrome swimming team arrived home from the World Champs hosted in Canada on Monday, 30 July 2018.

The team made history at this year’s Down Syndrome World Swim Champs, bringing home 3 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze medals. What’s more, our talented team of nine swimmers each broke an African record and beat one junior world record and 1 masters world record! SA’s team placed 7^th overall.

Ina Fowler, National Swimming Convener for SASA II says: “The hard work that the team has put in translated into some excellent results. Behind the scenes, there is so much time and effort put in by our athletes, their parents, the coaches and the organisers to ensure a winning team. We are so immensely proud.”

Melissa O’ Neill was the overall female winner for SA, earning 3 golds and 4 silvers. 13-year-old, Minke Janse van Rensburg was the youngest swimmer at the event and scooped up 2 silvers and 1 bronze while Rentia Oosthuizen won 2 silvers.

Our 4x 50m female relay team won silver whilst Hannes-Walt de Klerk received 2 bronze medals and Hilton Heggie received one. The men’s relay team comprising of Hylton Heggie, Karl Hebbelman, Sean O’ Neill, Hannes-Walt de Klerk and Jan-Herman Els won bronze for both the 4x50m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle.

Most importantly, each of our swimmers received a medal and a new African record. The men’s and ladies teams both broke African records while Melissa O’ Neill broke six African records and equalled the 400lM world record. Minke Janse van Rensburg set a new junior world record and two African records, and Hannes-Walt de Klerk set two new world records.

LFP Training’s Marketing and Advertising Manager, Jacolien Botha said: “It’s an honour for us as a company to back this swimming team. We are very proud of each of these athletes and recognise the obstacles that they have had to overcome. It really goes to show that anything is possible if you believe in yourself.”