South Africa’s leading marathon swimmers will converge on Marina Martinique in Jeffreys Bay from 6–8 March for the Bombela Concession Company SA National Open Water Championships, where national titles and junior international qualification opportunities will be on the line.
Among those on the start line this weekend will be defending champion in the 1.5km, 5km, 10km and 3km knockout and recent winner of the aQuellé Midmar Mile, Callan Lotter, who heads in as strong favourite.
“My training has been going well, I have done the mileage needed for the racing,” said the Pretoria-based swimmer, who turns 20 next Monday.
Lotter will compete in the 10km, 5km and 3km knockout, but says the focus is on execution rather than the fact that she’s heading in as defending champion.
“It definitely gives me confidence. Last year proved I can do it, but this year is a new race and I have to earn it again. I rather take confidence from the work I’ve done more than the title itself,” she explained.
That work has been done under the watchful eye of new coach Troy Prinsloo, whom Lotter credits with sparking a renewed love of the sport.
“Training with him has made a significant impact, being part of a positive environment and where you’re in a space where there’s belief, structure, and support, you’re able to push yourself properly and improve,” she said.
Lotter believes success in open water racing requires far more than just endurance.
“It takes endurance, but more than that it takes patience, tactical awareness, and mental resilience. You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable.”
Western Cape swimmer Hannah Neilson will be one of the swimmers looking to challenge Lotter in the 10km, 5km and 3km knockout, although her build-up has been tricky.
“Training has been a bit of a rollercoaster this time round, with just trying to get back to my old times and trying to recover after being sick just a few days ago,” she explained.
Neilson, who finished third in both the 10km and 5km last year, says the unpredictability of open water racing is part of what she enjoys most.
“I love the long training sessions and just the open opportunity that anything could happen in a race.”
Meanwhile, newly crowned men’s Midmar Mile champion Matthew Caldwell is another swimmer looking forward to testing himself against the national field, having claimed victory in the 1.5km, and 3km events last year and finishing second to Connor Buck in the 5km and 3km knockout.
“My prep is going well, really looking forward to this competition. There in J-Bay, it’s always a great swim that side. The prep's been quite hard work I've put in, so looking really fierce in the water, ready for the race… I just want to race fast, see where my body goes,” he said.
The US-based Buck is the defending champion in the 10km, 5km and 3km knockout events but won’t be at this weekend’s championships. But with the unpredictable nature of open water racing, Caldwell says the entire field poses a threat.
“I would say everyone. Open water is very unpredictable… if you're swimming the race, you've got a chance,” said the 20-year-old, who will be competing in the 3km, 3km knockout and 5km events.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Troy McWilliam will be chasing qualification for the South African team World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Argentina later this year.
“My training has been going well. In the beginning of February, I moved to Pretoria and joined the TUKS swimming squad. I have found the training to be a lot more than what I am used to,” he explained
McWilliam, who has enjoyed plenty of success at junior level including a national title over 7.5km in 2024, will contest the 10km, 3km knockout and 5km, with the longer distance a particular focus.
“This is the first time that I will be swimming the 10km at a national event… I am hoping to qualify for the SA Junior Worlds team this year for the 10km. I need to be in the top 2 in the 2007 & 2008 age group,” said the first-year chartered accounting student.
“I love how challenging the sport is and how it pushes me to the absolute limit. The feeling of finishing with a good time is unmatched.”
Racing gets underway at 9am on Friday, 6 March with the men’s 10km.