Former KZN swimmer makes waves

Former Westville Boys High scholar Mark de Swardt has raised eyebrows at the 2009 Horizon League Championships in the United States by winning three prestigious awards at the event.De Swardt is studying at Cleveland State University and is part of Swimming SA’s Open Water squad and he showed immense potential to pick up three gongs. He was adjudged Swimmer of the Championship, Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. It was the first time in Horizon League history that one swimmer has won all three honours.

De Swardt’s exploits included victories in the 1000m freestyle (9min 01.46sec), the 1650m freestyle (15min 02.06) and he then went on to break the Cleveland State 1999 record of countryman Henk Markgraaff in the longer race, shaving some 17 seconds off the previous record.

ÔÇ£Mark had the greatest distance swim in the history of the Horizon League with his mile swim. It was just phenomenal,ÔÇØ head coach Wally Morton said.