Swimmers head for Irish Championships

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
SIX junior swimmers are set to make a last gap effort to qualify for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games when they take part in the 2018 Irish Summer National Championships in Ireland later this month.

The Irish Championships, to be held at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin, are one of the few remaining events at which swimmers can achieve the set times before the qualifying period ends on 31 July.

The Irish Championships will run from 25 to 29 July while the Youth Olympics are scheduled for Buenos Aires, Argentina in October. Zimbabwe Aquatic Union (ZAU) president Mary Kloppers said the swimmers who have been earmarked for the trip are Liam O’Hara, Paige van der Westhuizen, Nomvula Mjimba, Dale Bruce, Quinton Tayali and Denislon Cyprianos.

She said they were making frantic efforts to ensure they are able to send a team to Argentina hence sending the swimmers to Ireland.

“There are selected events which are recognised by Fina, the swimming world governing body, where swimmers can attain times and the Irish Nationals is one of them hence the decision to send our junior swimmers to the event. Swimmers will have to be at their best and make sure they meet the times. I am hopeful they are training very hard at their respective bases and will be ready come 25 July,” said Kloppers.

She said Liam Davis and Mjimba were unable to meet the times after taking part in swimming events in Monaco and Singapore in June.

Kloppers said both swimmers will get another chance to redeem themselves when Mjimba takes part in the Irish Nationals while Davis is heading for the British Nationals to be held later this month.

“Both swimmers did not make it unfortunately but they are getting another opportunity to make the qualifying times at the recognised events. With 31 July being the cut-off date, we are hopeful they will come out with the times,” she said.

Stingrays coach, Eddie Cyprianos, who has Denilson and Tayali under his wings, said they are looking forward to a good performance from the boys as they have been training hard for the event.

“Our aim has been to make it to the Youth Olympics and Irish Nationals give us a great opportunity to meet that target. The boys have shown a lot of improvement in their swimming this past season and they have both managed to attain good times.

They have been training hard although they also had to focus on their school work as they are writing their Ordinary Level exams at the end of the year,” he said.

Kloppers said the trip was made possible with part funding from the International Olympic Committee through the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.

Cyprianios added they are grateful to Simbisa Brands who funded part of the air tickets for Denislon, Quinton and Dale.

To be eligible to participate in the Youth Olympic Games, athletes must have been born between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2003.