Mpumalanga Swimmers Clinch bronze at National Championships
April 19, 2017 at 12:37 a.mMpumalanga continues to punch above its weight at national sporting tournaments, this follows another strong showing by the province at national level.
The province made a big splash at the South African National Schools Aquatics Championships, which were held in Polokwane from April 10 to 13. Team Mpumalanga, which was made up of 55 swimmers, finished in third place after notching up 42 medals (including 12 gold, 14 silver and 16 bronze). Gauteng won the championships with 154 medals and was followed by KwaZulu Natal in second position with 109 medals. Free State was in fourth position with 39 medals, Eastern Cape in fifth with 26, Limpopo in sixth with 34, Western Cape in seventh with 40 and North West got the wooden spoon with 12.
“We are delighted by Team Mpumalanga’s performance and we extend words of gratitude to the swimmers, coaches, management and the parents for making this achievement possible. The team did well, especially after they beat Western Cape, Free State and Eastern Cape to the third position,” says Culture, Sport and Recreation spokesperson, Sibongile Nkosi.
The strong showing at the aquatics championships follows hot on the heels of another stellar performance during the Summer Games in December last year in which the province finished second. The Summer Games see the provinces contesting for top honours in the following sporting codes: cricket, gymnastics, basketball, rugby 7s, table tennis, morabaraba and kgati.
Adds Nkosi, “Mpumalanga is doing something right and the results are starting to show. We are hoping that in the near future we will take top honours.”