Durand in a class of his own 

Oliver Durand of Dolphins Swimming Club was the star of the show at the Bank Windhoek Short Course National Swimming Championships at the MTC Dome in Swakopmund over the weekend. 

The 17-year-old Durand broke nearly half of the individual records at the championships, setting 20 new records out of a total of 45 records, and if one disregards the 12 relay records, his record haul becomes even more impressive. 

Seven of his records came in the Open Men’s category and 13 in the 17-18 year category, while he also topped the senior men’s points table with 4 860 points, followed by Alexander Skinner of Dolphins on 3 786 and Jose Canjulo of Dolphins on 3 706 points. 

Jessica Humphrey of Aqua, who broke two records, was the top performing senior women’s swimmer with 3 998 points, followed by Molina Smalley of Dolphins (3 577) and Madison Bergh of  Aqua Swimming and Fitness Club (3 563). 

Durand’s younger brother, the 10-year-old Patrick Durand of Dolphins was the top performing junior men’s swimmer with 282 points, while he also broke five records in the 9-10 year category. 

Jiao Naan of Dolphins came second in the junior men’s category with 201 points, followed by Oelof Badenhorst of Dolphins, who also broke two records, on 164 points. 

Roselinde Matyayi of Aqua, who broke one record in the girls 13-14 year category, was the top junior women’s swimmer with 174 points, followed by Ainoa Naukosho of Dolphins (161) and Roze van Wyk of Marlins Swimnming Club with 160 points. 

Dolphins comfortably won the club competition with a total of 336 medals, consisting of 157 gold, 102 silver and 77 bronze medals. 

Aqua Swimming and Fitness Club came second with 209 medals (69 gold, 69 silver and 71 bronze medals), while Swakopmund Swimming Club came third with 64 medals (25 gold, 22 silver, 19 bronze). 

Six other clubs competed at the championships, namely Flippers Swimming Club (19 medals in total), Marlins Swimming Club (18 medals), Oranjemund Sank Sharks (16 medals), Propellers Swimming Club (15 medals), University of Stellenbosch (three medals) and Infinity Aquatic Centre (one medal).

Oliver Durand set Open as well as 17-18 year records in the 400m freestyle (3:56,43); 100m backstroke 55,83); 100m butterfly (55,21); 200m butterfly (2:02,24); 100m individual medley (56,15); 200m individual medley (2:00:55); and 400m individual medley (4:22,12). 

Besides that he set a further six records in the 17-18 year category in the 200m freestyle (1:50,44), 800m freestyle (8:12,62); 1 500m freestyle (15:48,89); 50m backstroke (26,18); 200m breaststroke (2:19,82); and 50m butterfly (25,51.)

Patrick Durand set five records in the 9-10 year category, in the 100m freestyle (1:07,33); 50m backstroke (34,96); 100m backstroke (1:13,38); 100m butterfly (1:12,51) and 200m individual medley (2:39,72). 

Oelof Badenhorst broke two records in the 9-10 year category, in the 50m breaststroke (38,34) and 100m breaststroke (1:24,47).

Jessica Humphrey set a new 17-18 year as well as Open record of 28,50 in the 50m backstroke, while Madison Bergh set a new 15-16 year and Open record of 18:08,32 in the 1 500m freestyle. 

Roselinde Matyayi set a new 13-14 year 50m backstroke record of 29,90, while Carissa Steyn of Dolphins set a new 17-18 year 1 500m freestyle record of 18:36,44. 

There were also a further 12 relay records with Dolphins breaking eight and Aqua four.