The first South African International Swimming Meet was launched in the windy city of Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.The two-day event drew leading swimmers from Germany, Great Britain, USA, Spain, Brazil, Venezuela, Tunisia, Trinidad and Tobago.
The best performances, both male and female, based on FINA points, each earned $10,000 and were awarded to Randall Bal (USA) and Elizabeth Simmonds (GBR) respectively.
The event is expected to be the first of many, Prof. Alfred Nevhutanda, Chairperson of the National Lotteries Board, said: "We hope that the grants from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) will help develop swimming in South Africa so that we get representation from all corners of South Africa at future international meets. To the athletes, your performances take swimming to a new level not only in the minds of SA's sports fans, but all across the world."