SA trio earn Commonwealth Games qualification at SA Swimming Champs
Aimee Canny, Pieter Coetzee, and Ruard van Renen secured Commonwealth Games qualification at the SA Swimming Championships in Gqeberha, with Canny setting a national record in the 200m freestyle and Coetzee winning the 100m backstroke. Picture supplied.
Image: supplied
Aimee Canny, Pieter Coetzee and Ruard van Renen all banked qualifying times for the Commonwealth Games at the SA Swimming Championships in Gqeberha on Tuesday.
Canny collected wins in the 200m freestyle and 100m breaststroke. In the 200m, the 22-year-old Canny touched the wall in 1:56.64 as she bettered her own national record in the process.
Not long after that triumph, Canny was back in the pool for the 100m as she beat out defending champion Rebecca Meder, Simone Moll and Kaylene Corbett for her second title on the night. Canny claimed the victory in a time of 1:06.57.
Speaking after the race, Canny was more than pleased with her efforts.
Canny’s Excitement for Breaststroke After Freestyle Success
“I think I’m happy that [the freestyle] was first because breaststroke was kind of more of a wildcard, you could say, just because I do a lot of freestyle training. But I’m super happy with that,” said Canny afterwards.
“I’ve kind of always been training breaststroke, but this year I’ve changed training groups and done a lot more distance and a lot more 200 breast… So I was really excited for this coming in.”
One of the other standout swimmers on the day, Coetzee had already secured his Commonwealth Games participation with a qualifying time in the morning heats in the 100m backstroke.
Later, in the final he went even faster as he claimed victory in 52.40 ahead of Van Reenen 53.61 which was also fast enough to book his ticket to the Commonwealth Games.
“I just wanted to see what I can do, get on the team firstly, and then just see what happens. I think that’s by far the fastest I’ve been at Nationals or at this time of the year, so it’s a very good sign,” said Coetzee.