Jessica Thompson added two more gold medals to her haul as Lara van Niekerk showed glimpses of her old self in day three action at the Bombela Concession Company SA National 25m Championships in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday, 27 September 2025.
Thompson has already collected three national titles at these championships and added two more on Saturday, in the 50m freestyle, which she won in 24.19 seconds, just five hundredths of a second off the national record, and the 100m backstroke in 58.34 seconds.
“I think in the 50, you don’t have time to think – that’s the beauty about the races. It’s more just trusting in your training and you can’t think about it – your body goes into autopilot.”
SA Short Course Champs 50m freestyle and 100m Backstroke Gold Medalist, Jessica Thompson
Speaking about racing national short course record holder Cailtin de Lange, who finished second in the freestyle in 24.65, Thompson added: “Caitlin is such an incredible swimmer, especially in the sprint free event so swimming against her I knew I had to be on my best game, top form and it was really nice having her next to me so I could get that extra push.”
Meanwhile, after a year of battling back from injury, illness and numerous disappointments, Van Niekerk looked to be in a much happier place as she added the 50m breaststroke title to the 100m gold she won on the opening day of competition.
The 22-year-old took the win in a time of 30.04 seconds, and while she was hoping for a sub-30-second time, she said afterwards: “I can just take this as a positive. It’s faster than I went at Worlds last year, so it’s baby steps. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so we’re getting there.”
As for the mental aspect, the double Commonwealth Games champion added: “I’ve just got back to why I started swimming in the beginning, and I’m really enjoying it again. I love going to training every day, and at least I’m enjoying racing again. There was a stage last year where I was scared of racing, so it’s good. It means I’m improving as a person, and I’m getting back there.”
Duné Coetzee returned to winning ways in the 400m freestyle, winning in a time of 4 minutes 11.38 seconds. Having recently moved back to Pretoria after finishing her studies in the USA, the 23-year-old has been pleased with her progress.
Jessica Thompson Sets New SA Record, Matches African Record
Jessica Thompson set a new 50m butterfly national record and equalled the 50m backstroke African…
Jessica Thompson Strikes Double Gold on SA Short Course Champs Opening Day
Jessica Thompson kicked off the Bombela Concession Company SA National Short Course Champs with two…
South Africa Record Morale-Boosting Qin at World U20 Women’s Water Polo Championship
South Africa ended the World Aquatics U20 Women’s Water Polo Championship on a high as…
“I Value gsport’s Ongoing Acknowledgment of My Hard Work” – #GSPORT20 Finalist KG Montjane
Three well-accomplished women in sport make up the finalists in the Brand South Africa Para…
Kaylene Corbett SA’s Sole Medalist at World Swimming Championships
South Africa’s female swimmers put in strong performances at the World Swimming Championships in Singapore,…
Team SA’s Women Athletes Help Power Team SA into World University Top Ten
Lara van Niekerk, Olivia Nel and Collete Uys among the women stars who helped to…
“I’ve only been swimming with Rocco [Meiring] for about two months, so I’m really happy with all my solid performances. This meet was just kind of to see where I’m at and what we need to do in training, so I’m very happy,” said Coetzee.
Keira van Heerden made a return to the podium, completing an individual medley double, adding to her 400m IM gold by holding off a fast-finishing Georgia Els to win the 200m event in 2:14.79.
The Bombela Concession Company SA National (25m) Championships in Pietermaritzburg comes to an end on Sunday.
Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Jessica Thompson added two more gold medals to her haul on day three action at the Bombela Concession Company SA National 25m Championships in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday, 27 September 2025. File Photo: Supplied
Photo Caption: Lara van Niekerk added the 50m breaststroke title to the 100m gold she won on the opening day of competition. File Photo: Supplied
