Free State hosted an epic 2025 SA Schools Swimming Championships
The 2025 SA Schools Swimming Championships brought three action-packed days of elite youth swimming, hosted by the Free State Province at the Stadium Swimming Pool, Bloemfontein, from April 5th to 7th.
This prestigious event brought together the best school-age swimmers from across the country, with all nine provinces represented in a spirited display of athletic excellence.
A collaborative effort between the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the event, attended by numerous MECs and provincial department heads, showcased the importance of school sports in developing future champions.
The championship featured top swimmers aged 12 to 18, with heats and finals held daily. Only the top two swimmers per province advance from the heats to the finals, thus ensuring a high level of competition.
The Para swimming events were proudly included, with athletes aged 12–19 competing in multiclass disability events — a celebration of inclusivity and talent and ensuring a fair and level playing field. Drug Free Sport (SAIDS) was on-site throughout the event to uphold clean sport standards.
The young swimmers powered through, proving their resilience and determination despite extreme downpours, mild flooding, and a few lightning delays.
This championship is steeped in legacy, with past participants like Pieter Coetze, Karin Prinsloo, Dune Coetzee, and Christopher Reid—all Olympians—still holding SA Schools records.
Isabeau Coetsee of Western Cape starred in the Junior Victrix Ludorum with amazing results in both the individual and the team contests. In the individual events, Coetsee bagged six medals, five gold and one silver. In the relay, they scooped four medals, two silvers, one bronze, and one gold. Meanwhile, Noah Nice of Gauteng Province won four gold medals, one silver, and a bronze medal. His Gauteng relay team also won 4 gold medals.
At the senior level, Leon Coetzer was the top para-swimming performer from the men’s side, with Josephine Endres taking the top achiever for the female para swimmers. Top performers’ trophies for the able-bodied swimmers went to Janco Grobelaar and Monique Oosthuizen for the highest World Aquatics points scored.
Leila Yazbek (U16) was crowned the SA U16 Champion in 6 events (100m fly, 100m free, 200 IM, 50m fly, and 50m free) at the SA Schools Swimming Championships held in Bloemfontein. Her 100m fly, 100m free, 200 IM, and 50m fly were also the fastest female swimmers, irrespective of the age groups. Leila had the second-quickest 100m breaststroke of all the swimmers. The cherry on top was being awarded the prestigious accolade of Senior Victrix Ludorum at SA Schools!
RESULTS
Men’s and Women’s Medals
Gauteng – 138 medals ( G-65; S-44; B29)
KwaZulu Natal -113 ( G-32; S-36; B45)
Western Cape – 99 Medals (G-24; S-37; B-37)
Free State – 75 Medals (G-24; S-26; B-25)
Northwest – 23 Medals (G-11; S-10; B-2)
Eastern Cape – 38 Medals (G-9; S-12; B-17)
Northern Cape – 20 Medals (G-8; S-4; B-8)
Mpumalanga – 15 Medals (G-5; S-3; B-7)
Limpopo – 18 Medals (G-4; S-7; B-7)
PARA
New Para South Africa record
5th April 2025
100m Backstroke S8 Men
New SA Para record
Old u14 SA record time – Joshua Grob – 1:54.56 – Gqeberha 2010
Old u14 SA record – Nhlakanipho Mabaso – 1:43.94 – Gqeberha – 30th March 2025
New u14 SA record – Nhlakanipho Mabaso – 1:39.74 – Bloemfontien – 5th April 2025
100m Backstroke S7 Women
New SA Para record
Old u14 SA record – Londiwe Khumalo – 2:11.51 – Establish new SA record u14 – Gqeberha – 30th March 2025
New u14 SA record – Londiwe Khumalo – 2:05.97 – Bloemfontein – 5th April 2025
New Para South Africa record
6th April 2025 – Heat
100m Breaststroke SB8 Men
New SA Para record
Old u14 SA record – William le Roux – 2:06.75 – Bloemfontein – 6th April 2025
New u14 SA record – Ntsikayethu Mtyobile – 1:56.33 – Bloemfontein – 6th April 2025
100m Breaststroke SB13 Men
New SA Para record
Old u14 SA record – Van Tonder – 1:44.20 – ? – 1984
New u14 SA record – Tiaan Terblanche – 1:33.51 – Bloemfontein – 6th April 2025
New Para South Africa record
6th April 2025 – Final
100m Breaststroke SB8 Men
New SA Para record
Old u14 SA record – Ntsikayethu Mtyobile – 1:56.33 – Bloemfontein – 6th April 2025 – Heat
New u14 SA record – Ntsikayethu Mtyobile – 1:53.06 – Bloemfontein – 6th April 2025 – Final
New Para South Africa record
6th April 2025 – Final
50m Butterfly S10 Men
Old u14 SA record – Leon Coetzer – 33.12 – Durban – July 2023
New u14 SA record – Leon Coetzer – 32.24 – Bloemfontein – 6th April 2025
New Para South Africa record
6th April 2025 – Final
50m Butterfly S8 Men
Old u14 SA record – Christian Sadie – 46.04 – ? – September 2011
New u14 SA record – Ntsikayethu Mtyobile – 45.98 – Bloemfontein – 6th April 2025
New Para South Africa record
7th April 2025 – Heat
50m Backstroke S10 Men
Old u14 SA record – Leon Coetzer – 40.13 – Durban – December 2023
New u14 SA record – Leon Coetzer – 37.23 – Bloemfontein – 7th April 2025
New Para South Africa record
7th April 2025 – Heat
50m Backstroke S5 Men
Old Senior SA record – Moeketsi Adams – 50.02 – Durban – April 2023
New Senior SA record – Moeketsi Adams – 48.91 – Bloemfontein – 7th April 2025
New Para South Africa record
7th April 2025 – Final
200m I.Medley SM8 Men
Old u14 SA record – Sebastian Crawford – 4:48.70 – ? – January 2007
New u14 SA record – Ntsikayethu Mtyobile – 4:06.74 – Bloemfontein – 7th April 2025
New Para South Africa record
7th April 2025 – Final
50m Backstroke S7 Women
Old u14 SA record – Londiwe Khumalo – 1:03.23 – Establish new SA record u14 – Gqeberha – 31st March 2025
New u14 SA record – Londiwe Khumalo – 59.65 – Bloemfontein – 7th April 2025
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