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Chad le Clos Makes Waves With 8-Mile Midmar Mission for SA Water Safety

Adnaan MohamedSwimmingLeave a Comment on Chad le Clos Makes Waves With 8-Mile Midmar Mission for SA Water Safety

Chad le Clos is ready to trade the starting blocks for the wide-open waters of the aQuellé Midmar Mile, diving head-first into the gruelling 8-Mile Charity Challenge next February as he throws his weight behind swimmers fundraising for the Chad le Clos Foundation.

The 2012 Olympic champion has spent most of the past decade slicing through chlorinated lanes rather than the wind-ruffled Midmar Dam. But in 2026 he returns not just as a guest on the shoreline, but as a swimmer plunging back into the tide.

“I’m very excited. To be honest, I haven’t swum much at Midmar,” Le Clos admitted.

“I’ve always been there whenever I could… I’ve always supported the Midmar Mile long before my foundation was involved, but I just really love to be there. I think it’s a great day… from the Thursday through to the Sunday, it’s just a great weekend.”

A Champion Embracing the Current

Chad le Clos

Now 33, Le Clos said Midmar’s ever-growing wave of participation is what keeps pulling him back.

“I think what’s quite unique about Midmar is that it seems to grow every year, and the fact that it just gives everybody of all ages the opportunity to compete. You know, you can be in your 80s… it’s incredible. Swimming is a great sport for everybody.”

Fresh from a long layoff to recover from stubborn injuries, Le Clos is wading carefully back toward elite racing with the 2026 Commonwealth Games qualifiers as his first checkpoint. But before the competitive whirlpool resumes, Midmar offers a different kind of challenge—one that matters beyond medals.

“In terms of the foundation, it’s been a huge blessing to be a part of Midmar. Last year we raised a decent amount of money for charity, which is really, really great,” he said.

Swimming for Something Bigger

Founded in 2018, the Chad le Clos Foundation focuses on drowning-prevention programmes, water-safety education and pathways for young swimmers from disadvantaged communities. Its outreach ranges from introducing children to the water safely to supporting promising athletes with coaching and competition access.

And in 2026, Le Clos will be shoulder-to-shoulder in the dam with the very people swimming for his cause.

“For me personally, I’m really excited to swim the eight miles. I’m going to be doing a mile with each of the people who are swimming for my foundation,” he explained. “So I’ll be swimming a mile with each and just trying to lend my name and try to be the best I can, for the kids, to be honest.”

Like a seasoned marathoner pacing alongside novices, Le Clos will be both teammate and tide-breaker, helping charity swimmers navigate the long, choppy journey.

A Ripple Becoming a Wave

With the 8-Mile and 16-Mile Charity Challenge already raising millions for causes nationwide, organisers expect another year of deep-water generosity when the 53rd aQuellé Midmar Mile takes place from 5–8 February 2026. Charity events run on the first two days; the main races follow over the weekend.

Smith Strikes Gold as SA Swimmers Make Waves in World Cup Opener

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, News, SwimmingLeave a Comment on Smith Strikes Gold as SA Swimmers Make Waves in World Cup Opener

By Adnaan Mohamed

South Africa’s swimmers made a splash at the opening leg of the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Carmel, Indiana, surfacing with one gold and three bronze medals after three days of fierce racing.

The team finished 10th overall, but the ripples they created hinted at much deeper tides to come.

Leading the charge was 19-year-old Chris Smith, who powered through the men’s 50m breaststroke final like a torpedo, touching the wall in 25.75 seconds.

It was the fastest short course time in the world this year. He edged out the Netherlands’ Caspar Corbeau by a fingertip – a mere three hundredths of a second. Belarusian Ilya Shymanovich took bronze in 25.79.

For Smith, it was the first major international title of his career after years of circling the podium.

“I’m very proud of Chris, that he finally got it. He really deserved it this time,” said his longtime coach Michelle Vlasakova of the Alcatraz Swimming Club in Centurion.

“He’s been so close at the last two big international meets. We both believed he could do it, and I told him after the heats: ‘You can go so much faster.’”

Vlasakova credited Smith’s mental fortitude as his secret weapon beneath the waves.

“I think that’s what Chris is best at. He’s very mentally strong. When he puts his head to something, no one can tell him otherwise.”

Now, the pair are setting their sights on breaking Cameron van der Burgh’s national and continental records and riding this wave all the way to the Commonwealth Games and Olympics.

“If he keeps believing in the programme and the coaching,” Vlasakova said, “I think he’s unstoppable.”

Meanwhile, Rebecca Meder was also in buoyant form, scooping two bronze medals and shattering an African record. The 23-year-old clocked 2:18.14 for third in the women’s 200m breaststroke, just a splash behind Olympic champion Kate Douglass (2:13.97) and Germany’s Anna Elendt (2:17.80).

Rebecca Meder

She then stormed to another bronze in the 200m individual medley, rewriting her own African record with 2:05.56.

“I’m happy with the times I posted,” said Meder.

“Obviously, I always want more. I’m chasing those African records, especially in the 200 and 100 breaststroke. I’m just so grateful to race these girls and see how I progress through the series.”

Veteran Chad le Clos, the most decorated male in World Cup history, added another medal to his treasure chest. He claimed bronze in the 100m butterfly (49.57) behind Switzerland’s Noe Ponti and Canada’s Ilya Kharun.

Chad le Clos – 100m butterfly bronze

As the first leg wrapped, the South Africans left Carmel with their heads above water and spirits soaring.

With Smith heading home and Meder diving into the next leg in Westmont, Illinois where South Africa’s swimmers would be looking to continue the current of momentum.

 Photo credits: World Aquatics

Team South Africa’s Friday Results

Tanika LaskeyFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Team South Africa’s Friday Results

Team South Africa had phenomenal results on Friday, including a SA Record for Adriaan Wildschutt

Athletics: 
Men’s 10 000m, final
Adrian Wildschutt set a new South African record of 26:50.64 in the men’s 10,000m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday. He finished the race in an impressive but exhausting performance under the stadium lights. The gold medal went to Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, who set an Olympic record of 27:24.25.

Wildschutt kept pace with the leading pack for most of the race and was in fourth place after 7000m. He only faded in the final lap. Reflecting on his performance, Wildschutt said, “I thought I ran really smart. I moved up and got myself in an amazing position. It was only in the last 300m that I started struggling. I’m very satisfied and grateful for everything I’ve accomplished so far.”

He added that his strategy, discussed with his coach, was to conserve energy and be ready for a fast final 1000m.

Women’s 800m, round 1, heats
Prudence Sekgodiso qualified for the 800m semifinals with a time of 1:59.84, finishing second in her heat. Despite the competitive nature of the heats, Sekgodiso comfortably secured her spot by following her race plan and staying relaxed.

She expressed her excitement, saying, “Everything went according to plan, and now I’ve made it to the semis.” After finishing behind Daily Cooper Gaspar of Cuba, Sekgodiso looked forward to the semifinals, noting the amazing crowd and her focus on sticking to her plan. “I’ve been running sub-two minutes for a long time. I made my move, gave it my all, and pushed through to come second. Now I’m getting my mind and body ready for the semi-final.”

Men’s shotput, qualification, Group B
Shot putter Kyle Blignaut failed to qualify for the final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His throw of 20.78m placed him seventh in his group, just missing the top six needed to advance.

Reflecting on his performance, Blignaut said, “I feel in great form and have been working hard, but it’s not meant to be. I’ll have to wait another four years for the next Olympics.” He added that he hoped to honor his late coach, Pierre Blignaut, and looks forward to competing in future events like the world championships and Commonwealth Games. With a new Italian coach, Blignaut aims to be on the podium at the 2028 Olympics.

Men’s 1500m, round 1
Ryan Mphahlele finished 12th in his heat in 3:38.48, placing him 38th overall and into the repechage.
Tshepo Tshite finished 13th in his heat in 3:36.87, placing him 23rd overall and into the repechage.
The repechage races will be run on Saturday, the 3rd of August.

Rowing: Men’s Pair Final B 
Christopher Baxter and John Smith finished their Paris 2024 journey
with a 3rd place finish in the Men’s Pair Final B race. This result places
them 9th overall out of the 18 teams that competed.

Swimming: 
Men’s 100m Butterfly – Heats
Chad le Clos finished 2nd in his heat but was unable to reach the semi-finals, finishing 24th overall. In the same heat, Matthew Sates finished 7th in 54.53, which placed him 35th overall, also missing the top 16 semi-finalists.

Women’s 200m Individual Medley – Heats & Semi Final
Rebecca Meder finished 5th in her semi-final race, placing 11th overall, narrowly missing out on a place in the final. Earlier in the day, she finished 4th in her heat in 2:11.96, which secured her the 16th and last remaining spot in the evening’s semi-finals.
 
Golf: Individual Stroke Play – Round 2
Scores after Round 2: Erik van Rooyen is tied for 10th place (-6) after scoring 2 under par, 69; and Christiaan Bezuidenhout is tied for 35th place (-1) after scoring an even par, 71, on day 2.

Hockey: Men
Team South Africa’s men’s hockey team finished their Paris 2024 competition with a 5-2 win over hosts, France.

Akani, Wayde and Tatjana head Team SA as first batch of Olympic athletes announced

Tanika LaskeyFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Akani, Wayde and Tatjana head Team SA as first batch of Olympic athletes announced

By Karien Jonckheere

Akani Simbine, Tatjana Smith and Wayde van Niekerk were all among the 39 athletes who officially had their tickets to Paris confirmed for later this year when the first Olympic team announcement was made by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC) in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Teams were announced across seven sporting codes, with two more official announcements to come in the next two months.

The athletics team is far from complete with the qualification period still open and those athletes booking their tickets via world rankings yet to be finally determined.

Among those at the team announcement on Wednesday was young 400m star Lythe Pillay, who has just returned from helping the South Africa 4x400m quartet to a silver medal at the recent World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas.

“It’s really exciting. It’s still a bit surreal,” he said of making the Olympic team. “I’m really process orientated. I’m always just fixated on training and doing what I have to do. I very seldom take time to sit back and really acknowledge what has just happened and what I’ve achieved… it’s given me more of a sense of motivation to progress and keep pushing.”

Also thrilled to have booked her trip to Paris was Cian Oldknow who is one of three women, along with Gerda Steyn and Irvette van Zyl, to have qualified in the marathon.

“Until it’s official, it’s always a bit like – ooh, are we actually going? So I think now it’s starting to sink in that I really made the team,” she said. “I’m very excited… I can’t wait for what’s coming. I’m so excited to be on the start line with all my role models.”

Meanwhile, heading the swimming team is Tokyo gold and silver medallist Tatjana Smith who will be looking to defend her 200m breaststroke title in the French capital.

 “It’s definitely nice to know it’s official,” she said after the announcement. “This is my second time going but it doesn’t make it any less exciting than the first time so I’m very excited.

“I’m feeling very motivated because you know you’re so close to the end – as in Paris, the thing that you’ve been working towards for so long. That definitely keeps you encouraged because you know there’s only about nine weeks left so that helps a lot.”

Others in the swimming team include the likes of SA’s most successful Olympian Chad le Clos, world championship medallist Pieter Coetzé and Commonwealth Games medallists Erin Gallagher and Kaylene Corbett.

The other sporting codes to have their teams announced were canoeing, climbing, gymnastics, surfing and wrestling.

Meanwhile, SASCOC announced the cash incentives that are up for grabs to South Africans who win medals in Paris. R400,000 will be awarded to gold medallists with R100,000 going to their coaches, R200 000 for silver medallists (with R50k for coaches) and R75 000 for bronze medals (R25k for coaches).

SA Olympic team so far:

AQUATICS

Men: Pieter Coetzé (100m, 200m backstroke), Chad le Clos (100m butterfly), Matthew Sates (100m, 200m butterfly and 200m IM)

Women: Aimee Canny (200m freestyle), Kaylene Corbett (200m breaststroke), Erin Gallagher (100m butterfly), Rebecca Meder (200m IM), Tatjana Smith (100m, 200m breaststroke), Julia Vincent (diving, 3m springboard)

ATHLETICS

Men: Luxolo Adams (200m), Stephen Mokoka (marathon), Zakhiti Nene (400m), Lythe Pillay (400m), Benjamin Richardson (200m), Akani Simbine (100m), Tshepo Tshite (1500m), Wayde van Niekerk (400m), Jovan van Vuuren (long jump), Adriaan Wildschutt (5000m, 10000m).

Women: Marione Fourie (100mH), Zeney Geldenhuys (400mH), Rogail Joseph (400mH), Cian Oldknow (marathon), Prudence Sekgodiso (800m), Gerda Steyn (marathon), Irvette van Zyl (marathon)

CANOEING

Men: Andrew Birkett (kayak sprint), Hamish Lovemore (kayak sprint)

Women: Tiffany Koch (kayak sprint), Esti Olivier (kayak sprint)

Management: Nkosi Mzolo (coach), Janet Simpkins (manager)

GYMNASTICS

Women: Caitlin Rooskrantz (artistic)

Management: Ilse Pelser (coach)

SPORT CLIMBING

Men: Joshua Bruyns (speed climbing), Mel Janse van Rensburg (lead & boulder)

Women: Aniya Holder (speed climbing), Lauren Mukheiber (lead & boulder)

Management: Dean Bruyns (manager), John-David Muller (official coach)

SURFING

Men: Matthew McGillivray, Jordy Smith

Women: Sarah Ann Baum

Management: Christopher Bond (coach), Rezar De Nicker (coach, manager)

WRESTLING

Men: Steyn de Lange (92kg), Marias Hattingh (training partner, 79kg)

Management: Jan Roets (coach)