South Africa’s swimmers collected one gold and three bronze medals at the first stop of the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Carmel, Indiana, where 19-year-old Chris Smith produced a breakthrough performance to claim gold in the men’s 50m breaststroke.
Smith’s coach at Alcatraz Swimming Club in Centurion, Michelle Vlasakova, who has guided him since the age of 10, was thrilled with his performance, after the teen just missed out on the medals at both the long and short course World Championships.
“I’m very proud of Chris, that he finally got it. I think he really deserved it this time. He’s been so close at the last two big international meets,” said Vlasakova.
“We both believed he could do it, and I even told him: ‘You can go so much faster’ after the heats. I know what he can do in training, and he also knows it… so definitely a lot of confidence for him going forward and training towards the Commonwealth Games and Olympics and the World Championships before that. I think he’s unstoppable now if he keeps believing in the programme and in the coaching.”
Vlasakova believes that what separates the medallists from the rest of the pack on the international stage is their mental toughness.
“I think that is what Chris is best at. He’s very mentally strong. When he puts his head to something, no one can tell him otherwise.”
Vlasakova said she believes there’s still room for technical improvement with both her and Smith harbouring “big goals” of breaking former Olympic champion and world record holder Cameron van der Burgh’s national and continental records and reaching the top of the podium at the Commonwealth Games and Olympics.
Meanwhile, back in Carmel, Rebecca Meder secured two podium finishes and set an African record. She earned bronze in the 200m breaststroke, and in the 200m individual medley, breaking her own South African and African record with a time of 2:05.56.
While pleased with her performances, the New Zealand-based swimmer said afterwards she was still hoping for more.
“I’m happy with the times that I posted. Obviously, I always want more, and I want to be better, and I want to be faster, so I’m chasing down those African records, especially in the 200 breaststroke and the 100 breaststroke because I’m very close,” she said.
“You supposedly need to get faster each leg as you go along, and I’m just so grateful for the opportunity to race all these girls. Last year, I was only able to do the first leg and this year I’m able to do all three, so I’m really excited to see how I progress through the series and just learn from all the racing and competing against the world’s best.”
Supplied by Swimming SA
