Gideon Louw wins 50m freestyle at the 2011 Telkom South Africa National Championship - day five
Gideon Louw cruised his way into the 50m freestyle semi-finals at the 2011 Telkom South Africa National Championship on Friday. The 23-year-old Louw, is now one step closer to claim the national title for the 50m freestyle event.
Louw dominated the preliminary rounds of the Men’s 50m freestyle on the fifth day of the South African Swimming Championship in Port Elizabeth.
Gideon staged his energetic swimming skills from the very start, where he overwhelmed the defending champion Roland Schoeman of NTS-NT in the first 15 metres of the race. Schoeman engaged him in a head-to-head battle and they both increased the intensity
of the event. Graeme Moore appeared as their closest rival and tried to surpass them two times in the first 25 metres but they both remained evident for the top qualification into the semi-finals through-out the lap.
Louw confirmed his top qualification into the semi-finals with his fastest kicks in the last five metres of the race. With the help of his stronger leg action, he out-touched the 30-year-old Schoeman and clocked a time of 22.75 seconds. Louw’s timing was
just 0.13 seconds ahead of Roland’s 22.83 seconds effort. CGA-CG’s Moore followed them on the finishing wall with an astonishing 23.07 seconds effort.
NTS-NT’s Werner Bosman and KZNA-KZ’s Brad Tandy also demonstrated a spectacular swim, clocking a stupendous time of 23.45 and 23.46 seconds for the fourth and fifth fastest spot into the semi-finals
They were followed by NTS-NT’s Craig Jordens and KZNA-KZ’s Leith Shanklan, who touched the wall in a time of 23.47 and 23.65 seconds for the sixth and seventh spots into the next round. Whereas, Reynard Wessels is the favourite to qualify into the final,
as he is the eighth semi-finalist, clocking a time of 23.57 seconds.
Louw was extremely delighted with his golden effort that placed him one step closer to conquer the crown of the 50m event. He claims to give a tough time to the defending champion and has the aim to represent his country at the 2011 World Championships in
Shanghai.
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