Durand delivers 20-record spree at Nasfed showpiece
Swimming
The championship featured swimmers from nine clubs.
The Namibia Aquatics Sports Federation (Nasfed) held its annual Bank Windhoek national short-course swimming championship at The Cube in Swakopmund last weekend.The event featured swimmers from various clubs, including Dolphin (overall winners with 299 individual medals and 37 relay medals; total 336), Aqua Swimming and Fitness Club (total 209 medals), Swakopmund Swimming Club (total 64 medals), Marlins, Flippers, Oranjemund Sand Sharks, Propellers, Infinity Aquatic Centre, as well as visitors representing the University of Stellenbosch.
Swimmers delivered impressive performances, with many achieving personal bests and setting new national records.
In the boys 17-18 age category, Oliver Durand set an almost unthinkable 20 new national age group records as well as Men’s Open records, further establishing himself as one of Namibia's premier swimmers.
In the boys 9-10 age division, his younger brother Patrick Durand and Oelof Badenhorst broke records set six years ago by Oliver Durand in 2018. Patrick posted the fastest times in the 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley (IM), while Oelof set the fastest times in the 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke events.
The relay events provided additional excitement for spectators, with the Aqua Swimming and Fitness Club going head-to-head against the Dolphins Swimming Club.
The Dolphins claimed victory in the Women’s 17-18 freestyle relay, the medley relay, the Men’s 9-10 medley relay, as well as the Mixed 17-18 freestyle and medley relays.
The Aqua Swimming and Fitness Club secured the fastest times in the boys 15-16 freestyle and medley relays, as well as in the mixed 13-14 freestyle and medley relays.
Overall top performers, Senior Men
1 Oliver Durand (17), Dolphins, 4860 points.
2 Alexander Skinner (26), Dolphins, 3786 points.
3 José Canjulo (18), Dolphins, 3706 points.
Overall top performers, boys 14 and under
1 Patrick Durand (10), Dolphins, 282 points
2 Naan Jiao (14), Dolphins, 201 points
3 Oelof Badenhorst (10) Dolphins, 164 points
Overall top performers, Senior Women
1 Jessica Humphrey (16), Aqua, 3998 points
2 Molina Smalley (26), Dolphins, 3577 points
3 Madison Bergh (15), Aqua, 3563 points
Overall top performers, girls 14 and under
1 Roselinda Matyayi, (13) Aqua, 174 points
2 Ainoa Naukosho, (13) Dolphins, 161 points
3 Roze van Wyk, (11) Marlins, 160 points
The Nasfed Nationals not only served as a platform for showcasing talent in Namibia, but also welcomed participants from neighbouring countries. As the championships concluded, many swimmers expressed their determination to train harder for future competitions.
Nasfed president, Riaan Steyn, said the short-course winter season has come to an end as they prepare for the summer’s upcoming long-course season which is expected to start in October. He said October will be filled with activities as the federation also prepares for an open water event towards the end of October.
With its success, the Nasfed national short-course swimming championships have set a high standard for future events.
– [email protected]
OLIVER DURAND’s national age group records set last weekend
Men 17-18 200 freestyle, 1:51.69 (Alexander Skinner, SA SC champs, Aug 2016) —> 1:50.44
Men 17-18 400 freestyle, 4:12.17 (Lushano Lamprecht, Jan 2015) —> 3:56.43
Men 17-18 800 freestyle, 8:46.29 (Nico Esslinger, Sept 2023) —> 8:12.62
Men 17-18 1500 freestyle, 16:47.38 (Phillip Seidler, July 2015) —> 15:48.89
Men 17-18 50 backstroke, 26.26 (Ronan Wantenaar, Oct 2018) —> 26.18
Men 17-18 100 backstroke, 57.10 (Ronan Wantenaar, Sept 2019) —> 55.83
Men 17-18 200 breaststroke, 2:20.53 (Ronan Wantenaar, Oct 2018) —> 2:19.82
Men 17-18 50 flystroke, 25.97 (Alexander Skinner, FINA world champs, Dec 2016) —> 25.51
Men 17-18 100 flystroke, 56.41 (Ronan Wantenaar, Sept 2019) —> 55.21
Men 17-18 200 flystroke, 2:10.10 (Corné le Roux, Sept 2019) —> 2:02.24
Men 17-18 100 indiv medley, 57.24 (Ronan Wantenaar, Sept 2019) —> 56.15
Men 17-18 200 indiv medley, 2:08.04 (Ronan Wantenaar, Oct 2018) —> 2:00.55
Men 17-18 400 indiv medley, 4:39.65 (Lushano Lamprecht, Jan 2015) —> 4:22.12
Men Open 400 freestyle, 3:57.94 (Phillip Seidler, Sept 2019) —> 3:56.43
Men Open 100 backstroke, 56.49 (Oliver Durand, Aug 2024) —> 55.83
Men Open 100 flystroke, 56.41 (Ronan Wantenaar, Sept 2019) —> 55.21
Men Open 200 flystroke, 2:07.36 (Corné le Roux, Cana Zone IV Champs, March 2018 ) —> 2:02.24
Men Open 100 indiv medley, 56.35 (Oliver Durand, Aug 2024) —> 56.15
Men Open 200 indiv medley, 2:03.32 (Ronan Wantenaar, Thailand Short Course championships, Oct 2022) —> 2:00.55
Men Open 400 indiv medley, 4:31.82 (Oliver Durand, Sept 2023) —> 4:22.12