Benjamin Katz
WESTERN Cape competitors did swimmingly at this year’s International Paralympic Committee World Championship.
Six of the seven medals won by the South African swimming team went to Western Cape swimmers at this week’s Montreal event.
Charl Bouwer, a three time-Paralympian swimmer who is visually impaired, won one silver and three bronze medals, and teammate Hendri Herbst won one silver and one bronze.
Eastern Cape-based swimmer Kevin Paul came home with the only South African gold after winning the 100m breaststroke final.
Africa records were broken by swimmers Beth Nothling and Adri Visser in the 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle S5 events respectively, as well as by Bouwer in the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle with times of 59.5 and 52.4 seconds.
Bouwer, a theology student at Stellenbosch University, won one gold and two silvers at the 2012 London Paralympics.
“I won one more medal than at last year’s (event) – only thing is that they’re not same colour,” he said.
The sport manager for Maties-Helderberg club for the Physically Disabled, Wentzel Barnard, said: “It’s amazing to see the standard improving from 2008 to 2012 and now at (this tournament).
“We’re very happy with the results. It took a lot from the athletes to perform so well only a few months after the 2012 Paralympics.”