Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga Zimpapers Sports Hub
SPARTANS Swimming Club reaffirmed their dominance on the national stage after successfully retaining the Ecocash National Sprint Gala title in Bulawayo over the weekend — a triumph their coach described as a demonstration of teamwork, renewal, and steady transition.
The two-day meet, featuring more than 20 clubs and over 400 swimmers, became another showcase of Spartans’ depth and determination. The Harare-based club closed the event with a commanding combined score of 677 points, topping both the boys’ and girls’ categories to underline their all-round strength.
Coach Lindsy Tudor-Cole was full of praise for the team’s collective effort.
“I am so proud of all of them. It was a very long gala. I think there were 20 different teams from across Zimbabwe, so obviously over 400 swimmers, and they really did well. We actually won the boys’ category, the girls’ category, and the overall category. They really performed so well.”
Spartans’ youthful core once again stole the spotlight. Kaylea Rogers, Neema Bhulabhai, Alexis Johnsen, and Gabriel Munengwa all delivered standout performances across multiple events.
Rogers, competing in the Girls 12 Years and Under division, claimed five gold medals in the 200m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke, and 50m backstroke — cementing her status as one of Zimbabwe’s brightest young swimming talents.
Munengwa was equally impressive, securing gold in the Boys 11–12 Years 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, and 100m butterfly. Spartans also swept the podium in the Boys 12 and Under 200m freestyle, with Wade Cameron winning in 2:28.38, followed by Mohan Guo (2:29.25) and Munengwa (2:30.93).
For Tudor-Cole, the secret behind the club’s sustained success goes beyond medals.
“The great thing about Spartans is we really work well as a team. It becomes like a family — it’s not just a team. We all work so well together. It was a long, long day, but they managed to handle themselves so well. And we literally had personal best times. So, not only did we do well on the medal tally, the swimmers themselves were improving their personal bests throughout the whole day, which was amazing.”
The focus now shifts to the Harare Provincial Championships later this year, as Spartans aim to maintain their momentum into the next phase of the season.
“We are going to work really hard because we’ve got our Harare Provincial Championships — the last week of November and the first week of December. That’s our Senior Championships. Most of the swimmers who were with me this weekend will be competing in that. That’s our goal now. We start again on Tuesday and we really work hard for that,” Tudor-Cole said.
Vikings Swimming Club, also from Harare, finished second with 346.5 points, while Stingrays Swimming Academy from Bulawayo secured third place with 314 points.
This year’s edition, the first to be staged in Bulawayo, will return to Mutare in 2026 — a fitting symbol of the sport’s ongoing renewal and the growing balance between established powerhouses and emerging provincial talent.
Bongani Ndlovu