Gold haul for swimming team
Botswana’s swimming team that participated in a recent competition in Namibia returned home with a haul of 23 medals, 10 of which were gold. The team was invited to the Namibia Swimming Federation gala, which was used as a development tour.
The team won 23 medals, 10 gold, five silver and eight bronze. Amaru Ditlhogo (1,500m freestyle), Rayhan Khonat (400m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and 50m freestyle), Ji-Eun Chang (50m breaststroke), Yun-Suh Chang (50m breaststroke), Larona Matenge (50m breaststroke), Ji-Eun Chang (100m breaststroke) and Mmusi Matthews (50m freestyle) were the gold medal winners.
Silver medals went to Kutlo Kesiilwe (400m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle), Kyra Harry (100m freestyle and 50m freestyle.)
Khonat (50m breaststroke), Preston Caple (50m breaststroke), Kyra Harry (100m fly style), Gaamangwe Junior Keitsile (100m fly style and
50m fly style), Yun-Suh Chang (100m breaststroke), Matthews (100m breaststroke) and Caple in the 50m freestyle, returned home with the bronze medals. The team’s coach, Solomon Mpusetsang told Mmegi Sport that he was impressed by
the performance of the team.
“They did personal best (PB) in most of the events, obviously because there has not been any gala since March. They had stayed for almost six months without competition. Nerves kicked in because these are young swimmers and some felt they could not do some events,” he said.
Mpusetsang said despite the nerves, they could not bar the swimmers from the finals because they came from far to swim and not to be scratched off. He said the tournament was a great opportunity for mental training. “We have a strong development team that we have to nurture and groom for 2028. We have to expose them to world-class training as well as world-class competitions to gather experience as they can, in preparation for the ultimate competitions, which are the Olympics,” he said. Mpusetsang said youngsters like Khonat (14 years) won medals in almost all events with four gold medals with the fast times that were competitive with the 15-16-year-old age group.
Mpusetsang said Keitsile, who is usually a favourite for gold, had an operation before the tour and was not in good shape.
“He is frustrated but he understands that he was not fit,” he added.
Mpusetsang said on the girls’ side, the team had the Chang sisters, Ji-Eun (15 years) and Yun-Suh (13 years) and powerful breaststrokers, Harry, Melodi Saleshando and Kutlo Kesiilwe.
“That team performed extremely well and my belief is that they also need proper structures to be nurtured and groomed for elite performance. We look forward to a competitive 2022–2023 season,” Mpusetsang said. Saleshando set a new PB in the girls’ 200m backstroke.