Para-swimmer Swanepoel bags gold and breaks African record at World Champs
Kat Swanepoel was initially disqualified after touching the wall first. Thereafter, officials investigated whether she had transgressed the rules with her turn from backstroke to breaststroke.
Paralympian Kat Swanepoel. Picture: katswanepoel/Instagram.
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa’s Kat Swanepoel bagged a gold medal and broke another African record at the Manchester 2023 Allianz Para Swimming World Championships.
Swanepoel touched the wall first at 2:51.41, over 10 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor.
The swimmer was initially disqualified after touching the wall first. Thereafter, officials investigated whether she had transgressed the rules with her turn from backstroke to breaststroke.
However, after an appeal and an extensive review of the race footage, the result was reinstated and the athlete claimed her gold medal in the 150m individual medley.
This is her second medal after she won a silver medal in the women's 50m breaststroke SB3 on Monday, coming second to Italy’s Monica Boggioni.
South Africa has broken four African records at the championships. Swanepoel cliched three of them, while Alan Ferreira is the custodian of one.
A total of 548 swimmers from 67 nations are competing at the event and South Africa is represented by six swimmers namely: Cornelle Leach, Christian Sadie, Nathan Hendricks, Kat Swanepoel, Danika Vyncke and Alani Ferreira.
AFRICAN RECORDS SO FAR:
Kat Swanepoel (SB9 50m breaststroke, 57.19)
Kat Swanepoel (S4 100m freestyle, 1:36.13) Kat Swanepoel (SM4 150m individual medley, 2:51.41)
Alani Ferreira (S12 100m butterfly, 1:18.35)