South Africa still ‘Myles’ behind

PROVIDING hope for South Africa’s floundering start to the Fina World Championships, Myles Brown survived the 200m freestyle heats only to be disposed of in the semi-finals.

His seventh-place finish in the evening session added to South Africa’s woes at the championships in Budapest.

Brown provided a glimmer of hope racing into the semifinal where he failed to advance today’s final posting a time of one minute, 47.19 seconds (1:47.19).

South Africa’s two top swimmers, Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh, will start their campaigns in earnest after skipping an event each on the first and second day.

Looking for redemption after conceding his 200m butterfly crowns at the previous world championships and Rio Olympic Games, Le Clos will be looking to reclaim his title.

The South African will be lining up against defending champion Laszlo Cseh, who will be looking to impress in front of his home crowd.

Le Clos has decided to focus his attention on the butterfly events opting not to race in the 200m freestyle which earned him a silver medal in Rio.

Van der Burgh will also kick off his campaign looking to win his sixth consecutive 50m breaststroke medal at the world championships.

In Van der Burgh’s absence British world record-holder Adam Peaty successfully defended his 100m breaststroke title in a new championship record of 57.47.

If everything goes according to plan, South Africa should be competing for its first medals at the championships when Van der Burgh and Le Clos’ finals are scheduled to be raced.