Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ANJE Van As went into this season looking to learn. She finished it with five individual medals, a national record and growing belief that the road to Los Angeles 2028 is beginning to take shape.
The Zimbabwean swimmer capped a strong season at the Africa Aquatics Senior and Junior Championships in Oran, Algeria, earlier this month, where she announced herself at senior level with two gold medals on her debut.
Van As claimed gold in the 200m and 100m butterfly events, silver in the 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley, and bronze in the 50m butterfly.
For a swimmer being earmarked for the 2028 Olympic Games cycle, it was a season that gave her plenty to look back on.
“This past season has been busy with lots of racing, so I was glad to finish off the season on a good note.
“The 200m fly race is always tough but so rewarding, and I was so excited to be able to hold the standard of last year’s 200m fly race.
“The 100m fly was a battle, swimming with such strong women, so I was really glad to be able to win the 100m fly as well,” said Van As.
Her gold medal in the 200m butterfly carried extra meaning.
Last year she won the same event at the Africa Aquatics Junior Championships in Cairo, Egypt. In Algeria, she repeated the feat, this time on the senior stage.
She also left Algeria with a new national record after clocking 27.66 seconds in the 50m butterfly to claim bronze.
Van As was also part of the Zimbabwe 4x100m freestyle relay team that won silver and broke a 27-year-old national record in a time of 3 minutes 52.35 seconds. The team included Mikayla Makwabarara, Alexis Johnsen and Paige Van Der Westhuizen.
“Breaking the 50m fly record was an amazing feeling because I had been chasing that time for a while, so to get it at the last gala of the season felt rewarding.
“I am really happy with my performance at my first senior level Africa Championships gala.
“These performances have shown me that I am taking steps in the right direction towards qualifying for LA2028.”
Van As is now based in South Africa, where she trains with Tuks Swimming Club while also studying at the University of Pretoria.
She is among the athletes receiving support through Olympic Solidarity Scholarships as preparations continue towards future Olympic qualification.
The move has brought change on and off the pool deck, but Van As believes it is already making a difference.
“This year in general has been a big learning curve, and I am excited to see how the rest of the year goes.
“It has been a big change since coming here and starting a new chapter, and I am grateful to my support system here and back home for helping me through it all.
“Where I am based now has definitely made a big impact on my swimming. Being around like-minded people who work hard helps me enjoy the journey and not just focus on results.”
Her focus now shifts to the South Africa Short Course Championships later this year as she continues building to-wards bigger targets ahead.
