Van Zijl, Ray on the rise in swimming

WHEN Namibian swimmers compete internationally, they strive to use the opportunity to establish personal best times, national records and international rankings, and gain competitive experience.

Once again, the top two Namibian swimmers have returned from the World Championships in Shanghai, China, with all these kudos. Dannielle van Zijl, who has now attended her third World Championship, continues to climb the international rankings with a world placing of 22nd in the 200m breast stroke.Her performance in the 200m Individual Medley in Shanghai earned her a 24th-place ranking.In the three other events she swam, she finished among the top 35 in the world – 30th in the 100m breast stroke, 31st in the 100m Individual Medley, and 33rd in the 50m breast stroke).This 20-year-old swimmer, who is studying Sports Science at the University of Pretoria, also manages to fit in 35 hours of training a week, during which she swims 45 kilometres.Alex Ray (18), who attended his first World Short Course Championships, took it upon himself to create a new tidal wave of challenge for those Namibian swimmers that follow him.When he finished his five events in China, he had eight new Namibian records to his name.As a teenager he not only broke the Namibian Age Group records in the 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly events, but also swam faster than any other Namibian.Namibia’s male swimmers are relatively young compared to the average age of 26 in international events, so Alex and his team mates will have to juggle their studies and careers in order to stay in the sport long enough to be competitive against the more muscled and experienced men.Alex’s placings ranged from 52nd to 72nd, but often the fields were composed of more than 100 swimmers, so his standings are respectable.The World Championship field included 19 world long-course medallists, 32 world short course medallists, seven Olympic medallists and five short-course world record holders.The event saw 128 nations, ranging from Guatemala to Mongolia, competing at the impressive Qi Zhong stadium, which has a seating capacity of 15 000 and is shaped like a Magnolia – the city of Shanghai’s official flower.Dannielle van Zijl, who has now attended her third World Championship, continues to climb the international rankings with a world placing of 22nd in the 200m breast stroke.Her performance in the 200m Individual Medley in Shanghai earned her a 24th-place ranking.In the three other events she swam, she finished among the top 35 in the world – 30th in the 100m breast stroke, 31st in the 100m Individual Medley, and 33rd in the 50m breast stroke).This 20-year-old swimmer, who is studying Sports Science at the University of Pretoria, also manages to fit in 35 hours of training a week, during which she swims 45 kilometres.Alex Ray (18), who attended his first World Short Course Championships, took it upon himself to create a new tidal wave of challenge for those Namibian swimmers that follow him.When he finished his five events in China, he had eight new Namibian records to his name.As a teenager he not only broke the Namibian Age Group records in the 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly events, but also swam faster than any other Namibian.Namibia’s male swimmers are relatively young compared to the average age of 26 in international events, so Alex and his team mates will have to juggle their studies and careers in order to stay in the sport long enough to be competitive against the more muscled and experienced men.Alex’s placings ranged from 52nd to 72nd, but often the fields were composed of more than 100 swimmers, so his standings are respectable.The World Championship field included 19 world long-course medallists, 32 world short course medallists, seven Olympic medallists and five short-course world record holders.The event saw 128 nations, ranging from Guatemala to Mongolia, competing at the impressive Qi Zhong stadium, which has a seating capacity of 15 000 and is shaped like a Magnolia – the city of Shanghai’s official flower.