South African swimming youngsters appear to have a winning streak. Swimming sensation Kris Mihaylov shot to first place in the 200m butterfly at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Bucharest, Romania. The race was on Sunday night. Kris Mihaylov is now South Africa’s latest swimming world champion following Pieter Coetzee’s record-breaking backstroke performance at the senior championships in Singapore.
Mihaylov was fast off the blocks, clocking 55.52 in the opening 100m in Otopeni after topping the morning heats in a time of 1:58.17. He then closed out the final to earn gold in 1:56.16. Mihaylov took more than two seconds off his pre-championship career best of 1:58.18 in earning South Africa’s only medal of the meet. David Antal of Hungary clocked 1:56.87 to take the silver medal, while Turkey’s Tuncer Erturk took the bronze in 1:58.14. The win was a huge one for the South African teen, especially considering Mihaylov is regarded as a freestyle specialist, though he has some solid individual medley and butterfly times. The young swimmer holds more than a dozen South African national age group records, all of which are in freestyle events.
South Africa now boasts the 100m backstroke champion in Coetze, and 200m junior butterfly champion, with its medal prospects for the LA Olympics growing with each new competition.
Mihaylov has proved himself a formidable swimmer for a young teen. He is an example of stamina, talent, strength and agility all rolled into one. Of course, he faced tough competition from the other teen swimmers in the race. Antal and Ertuk had come in close, but Mihaylov was the one who swam ahead. Swimming requires a firm conviction and dedication that requires you to maintain your body’s health for endurance. Mihaylov will now bring home South Africa’s only gold medal from the tournament. Mihaylov has some key potential that can lead him possibly to the Olympics if he keeps up the good work. Victory in sport can be sweet but the price of perseverance costs endurance. That is why you have to be well prepared and trained.
Both Coetzee and Mihaylov have now won gold in their respective swimming events. Coetzee in Singapore and Mihaylov in Bucharest, Romania. Backstroke and Butterfly champions Mihaylov and Coetzee may meetup in the Olympics.
Mihaylov began the race in third position at the 50m turn with a split of 26.23, just behind Turkey’s Tuncer Erturk (25.97) and Poland’s Blazej Dworakowski (25.85). By the 100m mark, he had moved into the lead with a strong split of 55.52 and managed his pace well through the second half of the race. The gold medal marks a significant step forward for Mihaylov, who entered the meet with a best time of 1:58.18. His ability to stay composed after a fast start by his rivals and close strongly in the final 100m highlighted his growing maturity as an athlete.
Swimming South Africa described the achievement as a proud moment, noting that Mihaylov’s victory capped off the country’s campaign at the World Junior Championships with a podium finish.
South African swimming may be entering a new golden age after having become some what stagnant. Athletes like Mihaylov and Coetzee are likely to take competition in professional international swimming to a whole new level. Mihaylov has the potential to compete in the next Olympics, if possible, as does Coetzee. It would be interesting to see how they interact when they make the team. If they do so at the same time. Mihaylov certainly has the stamina and perseverance to train great. It is swimmers like him who could take the country’s swimming to the next stage. Mihaylov swam better than any other competitive athlete in the Butter fly race.
South Africans should unite behind the victories of their professional athletes. Professional swimmers like Coetzee, Mihaylov, Le Clos and others are paving the way to a more visible South Africa on the international world stage of athleticism in Aquatics.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
