Swimming team on a positive start
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday February 21, 2020 12:32
James Freeman won the gold medal in the 800m freestyle.
Andile Bekker won the silver medal in the same race while Maxine Egner scooped a bronze medal. The championships were still ongoing by the time of going to press. By then Botswana was sitting in position two and Namibia in the lead.
Head coach, Samantha Gibson said Thursday morning the team only competed in the 800m categories. “(In) Swimming we do not necessary have to train as a team. Swimmers prepared with their respective coaches at their clubs. As coaches we got updates from those clubs, which indicated that the swimmers are on track,” she said.
Gibson added they only did team building as they had towards the competition. She said Botswana has fielded a strong team that was expected to win many medals.
“Our swimmers are strong, but I am not sure if South Africa has sent a strong team. Zambia and Zimbabwe are looking strong. We finished in position four last year. This is also an Olympic qualifier and if we could get that (we are good to go). But the main aim is for swimmers to get Personal Best(s) (PB).”
For his part, Freeman said he prepared for the championships differently because it is an Olympic year and he has been training hard.
“Since the end of last year we have been training for this competition and it is the first for this year. I am just here to see how it goes and I am not worried about times that I clock because it is still early. So far I am happy about my performance,” Freeman said.
He said it was exciting to win gold before a home crowd adding that it also motivates him to swim faster. Freeman was competing in 10 individual races. He said at the moment he has two B qualifying times for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games from last year. However, Freeman explained that A qualification still eludes him because it is fast and it is a big stretch. Freeman said he would like to be included in Team Botswana for the Olympics for him to get experience.
“My coach is stressing about it, but my aim is 2024. If 2020 happens it would just be for experience. I am not under pressure to qualify for Tokyo,” he said.
Silver medalist, Bekker said he has been going through intense training ahead of the competition. He said winning silver came as a surprise.
“The medal would give me more confidence in this gala and I hope to win more medals. I am swimming 13 races and it should be grilling, but I am up for the challenge. Olympics are still far for me, I would focus on 2024,” Bekker said.