Para-swim champs

■ The World Para-Swim Championships took place in early December in Mexico City, Mexico, and Franco Smit, a Grade 12 pupil from Pioneer School, Worcester, and Christian Sadie, a Stellenbosch University student, returned victorious to South Africa last week. On day one, Franco swam an African record in the S12 100m backstroke event, and ended third overall. On day six, he swam in the S12 Men’s 100m freestyle, finishing second and going into the final with a new African record and personal best, and then in the 100m freestyle finals he swam into third position in a new African record. Christian had the event for Team SA of the night, and went into the final seeded third. He took a second place in the Men’s S7 50m freestyle in a personal best time, and swam the finals of the Men’s S7 100m breaststroke, which turned out to be exciting and controversial. He ended his race in fourth with a new African record, and was just out touched by the swimmer from Israel. Christian Sadie swam his timed final for the SM7 200m individual medley, finishing second, which brought his medal tally to three silver medals at this event. “I’m really proud of the spirit and competitiveness of the team. We will see much more of them in the next two years before Paralympics,” said coach Theo Verster.