Roland back to record ways

2008-09-07 15:26

Johannesburg - Roland Schoeman was in record-breaking form and gave the crowd what they wanted! A world record in the 50m freestyle, on a night of action-packed swimming at the Telkom SA Short Course Championships at the Delville Swimming Pool in Germiston on Saturday.

Schoeman's decision to scratch from the morning's programme paid dividends as he powered his way to a world best of 20.64 seconds in the two-man showdown final against Tuks Swimming club team-mate Gregor Widmer, who clocked 22.45.

"Having missed the world record by one hundredth of a second in the semi-final the night before, I knew I had a chance, but even though I had a rest by not swimming in the morning session, people are always asking if I was able to really break the world record today, so it is always on one's mind," said Schoeman after bettering Duje Draganja's previous world mark of 20.82 set at the Fina World Short Course Championships in Manchester, England back in April this year.

"I felt that I was reaching on my last arm length, but other than that I was happy with my swim."

Chanelle van Wyk was also in impressive form as she equaled Charlene Wittstock's long-standing national record of 28.00 set back in Rio de Janeiro six years ago. Cape Town-based Van Wyk also took gold in the 50m freestyle in 25.84.

- SAPA