Steep learning curve for swimmer Samantha
Next year the coach hopes to take more swimmers from Blue Ocean Aquatics club.
SAMANTHA Labuschagne travelled to compete in the World Cup Series cluster in Dubai and Doha, where many of the world’s top swimmers are presently competing for prize-money and the overall title of World Cup Champion.
The meets involved three clusters happening in Europe, the Middle East and the East, with three meets taking place in three different venues in each cluster with about two days between meets.
Samantha took part in the Middle East cluster but missed the first gala in Beijing but then joined the circuit in Dubai and Doha.
The level of swimming in Samantha’s races – the 50m and 100m backstroke and 50m and 100m freestyle – was very high, with Olympic swimmers like Katinka Hosszu from Hungary, Jeanette Ottersen from Denmark, Madeline Groves and Britney Elmslie from Australia, Daryna Zevina from Ukraine and Alia Atkinson from Jamaica, in attendance.
Samantha swam her personal best times and was able to hold positions of ninth and tenth which put her just outside of qualifying for finals as they take the top eight swimmers.
“This was such a great achievement for her considering the travelling and the pressure of swimming next to your swimming heroes and Olympic medallists,” said coach Mandy Koegelenberg.
The highlight of competing at both events was to be able to swim in the South African relay with the likes of Chad le Clos, Brad Tandy, Roland Schoeman and Giulio Zorzi.
She competed in four relays between the two meets and placed third in Dubai in the 4x50m freestyle relay with Chad le Clos, Brad Tandy and Emma Cellius. In the other relays they placed fourth.
“The learning experience of the trip was definitely worth the cost and we will look to possibly attend next year with more swimmers from Blue Ocean Aquatics as I do believe that it is a good learning ground for international swimming and a stepping stone to furthering their swimming careers,” said Mandy.
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