Milla excels at World Junior Swimming Championships
Local swimming star, Milla Drakopoulos set a new South African under 16 record at the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships held at the beginning of September in Lima.
Swimmers from 82 countries participated in the championships, which took place over six days in the capital city of Peru.
Competing in the girls under 17 category, the Grade 10 St John’s Diocesan School for Girls learner (16), raced to fifth place in the 50 metre backstroke final. Her time of 29:00 seconds saw her establish a new South African record. This time was only 0.49 seconds off the winner’s time and 0.07 seconds off the bronze medallist.
Milla had not previously dipped under the 30 second barrier for this event. Her remarkable achievements came first in the heats where she clocked a time of 29:69 seconds and improved to 29:45 seconds in the semi-finals.
Prior to the Junior Championships, the rising star qualified to swim against the best swimmers in South Africa in the South African National Short Course Swimming Championships. This competition was held in August in Pietermaritzburg.
Competing in a number of disciplines, Milla more than held her own, winning gold in the 100 metre backstroke. The experience gained here proved invaluable and augured well for her participation in the World Junior Championships.
Her coach, Wayne Riddin, praised her performance and said that it was an excellent swim from Milla to finish in yet another personal best time.