Neethling aims high in Durban

All eyes will be on South Africa's Olympic swimming star Ryk Neethling when he attempts to break his own world record in a specially-arranged 100m individual medley at King's Park arena next weekend.

Neethling, rated the best swimmer in the world at the end of last season's short-course series, on Saturday confirmed his entry for the three-day Mr Price Seagulls short-course gala which starts on Friday, and officials will announce later in the week on which of the three days his record attempt will take place.

As part of the regular meet, Neethling will also swim in the 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle, the 50m and 100m butterfly.

Because the meet is part of his preparations for the forthcoming world cup, the highly popular Neethling is restricting his autograph-signing to one session next Sunday.

One of the other highlights of this popular annual gala, which has attracted a field of 575 swimmers from across the country, will be Swimming South Africa's "Beijing relay project" which features the cream of the country's 200m freestyle relay women in action as part of their build-up to the 2008 Olympics in the Chinese metropolis.

Individuals who will be in action include new South African 200m backstroke record-holder George du Rand, Melissa Corfe, Lauren Roets, Robin Francis and Troyden Prinsloo, who between them won almost a dozen titles at the recent SA short-course championships in Pietermaritzburg.

Traditionally the short-course pool at King's Park has seen quality performances from our leading swimmers, and several world records have been set here, including Penny Heyns's breaststroke performances back in 1999.

Back in competition for the first time since her shoulder injury will be national record-holder Charlene Wittstock, who will provide Corfe and Co with stiff competition in the backstroke events, while Wendy Trott of Cape Town will be pushing her rivals all the way in the longer freestyle events.

There will be new club champions this year as last year's biggest points scorers, Seals, have not entered. Entry is R10 per day.