The 2025 SA National Swimming Championships has concluded with three women swimmers having achieved qualifying times for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, at the Newton Park Swimming Pool in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape on Sunday, 13, April 2025.
Erin Gallagher dipped under the required time in the morning heats of the 50m butterfly to add her name to the South African team list for Singapore, finishing in 25.93 seconds before choosing to skip the evening final, which was won by 17-year-old Jessica Thompson in a time of 26.47 seconds.
“I was very, very happy. I remember touching the wall, turning around and seeing a 25.9 and just saying ‘Thank you, Jesus’, because I had no idea how this morning was going to go.”
50m Butterfly World Champs Qualifier, Erin Gallagher
“The year after the Olympics is very much an experimental year,” said Gallagher, who missed out on qualifying in the 100m butterfly on Saturday.
“You have no idea what’s going to happen, what’s going to go down, your body is still kind of recovering from the hectic training leading up to the Games,” she added, “So we just said this year we’re going to try new things, see what works, see what doesn’t work.”
Thompson admitted it was strange not having Gallagher to chase in the final, but she was thrilled with the win. “I’m feeling very tired, it’s been a long week of racing, so just happy to go a little bit faster than this morning,” she said. “I think it’s all that really matters, just cutting off those splits.”
Duné Coetzee claimed her fourth title of the championships on Sunday, making her the most decorated of the female swimmers. She won the 400m freestyle in a time of 4:11.29 to add to her 200 and 800m freestyle and 200m butterfly golds.
“I’m so, so happy with that swim. I would have liked to go a little bit faster and try and get a best time, but I’m really happy with how that went, and I felt like I executed the race how I wanted to.”
Four Times 2025 SA Swim Champs Champion, Duné Coetzee
Coetzee is flying back to the University of Georgia to complete her final exams in sports management, before returning to South Africa to train in Pretoria. Hannah Pearse also celebrated a victory on the night in the women’s 200m backstroke in 2:13.13.
In the events for swimmers with a disability, Danika Vyncke achieved qualifying times for the World Para Swimming Championships in September, finishing the SM7 200IM in 2:51.60.
Women’s 2025 World Aquatics Championships A-Qualifying Times at the SA National Swimming Championships
Rebecca Meder: 200m individual medley, 200m breaststroke
Kaylene Corbett: 200m breaststroke
Erin Gallagher: 50m butterfly
Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere for Swimming South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Erin Gallagher dipped under the required time in the morning heats of the 50m butterfly to add her name to the SA team list for Singapore. Gallagher joined Kaylene Korbett and Rebecca Meder on Day 5 at the SA National Swimming Championships in Gqeberha, on Sunday, 13 April, 2025. Photo: Roger Sedres / Swimming SA
