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Ryk on fire in Durban
21/11/2004 21:05 - (SA)
Durban - South Africa's swimming idol Ryk Neethling spoke of "huge relief" after two victories, two silver medals and a bronze in the three-day Fina World Cup event that ended in Durban on Sunday night.
"My body's tired, it's been an exhausting time through the Olympics and leading up to this World Cup," said Neethling. "I woke up this morning and I felt exhausted. A lot went down after our relay gold medal in Athens and I never realised how much the controversy that followed (over lack of funds in SA swimming) could take out of one.
"I'm just glad this weekend is over," said Neethling, who anchored the SA team to their world record Olympic gold medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay.
"Now I need to rest up for the World Cup series. But I'm happy with my performance here. Two golds, two silvers and a bronze is something to be proud of and it also put some money in my pocket."
He had to concede 1000 Swiss Francs (about R5 000) to withdraw from the 200 individual medley to save his energy for the 200 freestyle final on Sunday. This, after a touch-and-go heat in the morning that put him in lane seven for the final, but it was worth it.
Swimmers in the World Cup series get $1 500 for a win. Neethling was on fire from the start of his 200 freestyle final and held his lead on Switzerland's Dominik Meichtry at every turn to win in 1:45,11 to the 1:46,57 by the Swiss swimmer. Neethling leaves early in the week via Hong Kong to compete in Mebourne next Friday, followed by World Cup events in Europe.
In an Olympic year where the men dominated, South Africa's women, spearhead by Johannesburg swimmer Mandy Loots, began to shine for future major championships.
Mandy Loots set her seventh short course record of the event with a silver Africa mark of 58,83sec for the 100m butterfly and 1:01,68 in the 200m IM as part of her preparations for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March 2006.
"I've got a big smile on my face with this form," said Loots. "The racing is helping to build up to a peak, especially with World Cup events in Melbourne and Korea coming up. I'm ecstatic."
Roland Schoeman, who enjoyed victories in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke on Friday and Saturday, put up a great race against German legend Thomas Rupprath in the 50m butterfly, but was pipped by a fingernail. Rupprath swam 23,48sec to the 23,54 by Schoeman, with Ryk Neethling third in 23,61. Schoeman also scored one silver and a bronze at the showpiece.
South Africa's medal tally at the end was 11 gold medals, nine silvers and 11 bronze.
- SAPA
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