Byo holds first swimming gala

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
SWIMMING made a return in Bulawayo with the first gala for the 2020/21 season being held yesterday at the City Pool.

The event saw close to 100 swimmers take to the pool in eight competitions that included 50m races in the backstroke, and butterfly while in the 100m they had breaststroke, freestyle and butterfly and in the 200m section they was the individual medley, freestyle and backstroke.

Bulawayo Amateur Swimming Association committee member, Nokuthula Cyprianos said the event progressed smoothly and they managed to observe all the Covid-19 protocols in place with a limited number of officials, while only four swimmers were allowed into the pool for each race. She said there was excitement around the return of the sport with some swimmers arriving as early as 7am for the gala which started at 9am.

“We were surprised to se lots of people early at the pool just as we were also arriving to start preparing for the day.

“I think it was a sign how much people were missing the sport,” said Cyprianos.

She said adhering to the Covid-19 protocols meant processes such as marshalling swimmers caused delays but they managed to meet the set time. Stingrays’ Denilson Cyprianos was off to a whooping start as he broke the national 200m backstroke record that he set last year.

Denilson clocked two minutes 04.85 seconds, the previous record stood at two minutes 05:62 seconds.

The swimmer was thrilled with the good start saying he had utilised the long break well through focusing improving his times.

“It’s good to be back in the pool and competing again and I am glad I managed to break my own 200m backstroke record.

“The extended break was good as it enabled me to refocus on my goals and plan ahead. I was also training hard during the period,” he said.

The first gala saw Stingrays Swimming Academy rake in a combined total score of 733.5 points to come first in the team rankings while Barracudas Swimming Club was second with 278 points while School of Swimming came in third after amassing 269. 4 points.

Penguins Club (249) was fourth while Crusaders Swimmers came in fifth with 221.5 points while Falcons Swimming Club (74) and Crocs (29) completed the list.