42nd Singapore Swimming National Age Group Championship-PBs in abundance for young swimmers |24 March 2011

Competing in the male 13-14 years category, Adam Viktora clocked PBs in all eight events he took part in – 50m freestyle in 25.83 seconds (old best was 27.01) to finish 6th out of 79, 100m freestyle in 57.47 (old best 58.01) to finish 11th out of 71, 200m freestyle in 2:05.13 (old best 2:06.10) to finish 6th out of 42, 400m freestyle in 4:28.51 (old best 4:33.44) to finish 7th out of 27, 1,500m freestyle in 18:21.96 (old best 19:00) to finish 11th out of 19, 50m butterfly in 29.37 (old best 30.01) to finish 19th out of 45, 100m butterfly in 1:06.77 (old best 1:08.10) to finish 19th out of 31, and 50m backstroke in 32.55 (old best 35.15) to finish joint 17th out of 33.

Dean Hoffman finished with six PBs after taking part in the 50m freestyle in 29.04 (old best 30.01) to finish 61st out of 79, 100m freestyle in 1:05.42 (old best 1:06.00) to finish 57th out of 71, 200m freestyle in 2:21.99 to finish 33rd out of 42), 400m freestyle in 5:05.39 (old best 5:15.01) to finish 25th out of 27, 1,500m freestyle in 19:43.56 (old best 20:00) to finish 19th out of 19, 100m backstroke in 1:16.98 (old best 1:18.15) to finish 22nd out of 26, 50m backstroke in 37.85 to finish 32nd out of 33, and 200m backstroke  in 2:48.46 to finish 16th out of 16 in the 13-14 years category.

Ryan Govinden swam the most events – 10 – at the championship and got seven PBs – 50m freestyle in 27.17 (old best 28.11) to finish 46th out of 61, 100m freestyle in 1: 01.17 (old best 1:03.82) to finish 46th out of 55, 200m freestyle in 2:14.24 (old best 2:17.55) to finish 31st out of 34, 1,500m freestyle in 19:18.05 (old best 19:30) to finish 11th out of 11, 200m butterfly in 2:44.91, first time to swim the distance, to finish 12th out of 12, 50m backstroke in 33.05 (old best 33.45) to finish 19th out of 21, and 100m backstroke in 1:12.67 (old best 1:14.15) to finish 18th out of 18.

His other three results were as follows: 50m butterfly (31.76 seconds to finish 33rd out of 33), 100m butterfly (1:11.42 to finish 21st out of 22) and 400m freestyle (4:49.80 to finish 18th out of 20).

Former Young Male Athlete of the Year Shane Mangroo got just two PBs after taking part in the 50m freestyle in 26.04 to finish joint 27th out of 61, 100m freestyle (58.23 to finish 25th out of 55), 200m freestyle (2:15.04 to finish 32nd out of 34), 50m backstroke (31.56 to finish 16th out of 21), 100m backstroke (1:12.23 to finish 17th out of 18), 50m butterfly in 28.24 seconds (old best 28.55) to finish 19th out of 33), 100m butterfly (1:03.81 to finish 19th out of 21) and 200m butterfly (2:44.69, first time to swim the distance, to finish 11th out of 12).

Mathias Bonne swam four events and got as many PBs in the 50m freestyle in 26.40 (old best 27.45) to finish 37th out of 61), 100m freestyle in 1: 00.61 (old best 1:04) to finish 42nd out of 55, 200m freestyle in 2:21.10 (old best 2:25) to finish 34th out of 34, and 50m butterfly in 28.72 (old best 31.05) to finish 23rd out of 33.
 
Aurelie Fanchette finished with one PB in the 50m backstroke in 36.60 (old best 38.15) to finish 20th out of 27 and also competed in the 50m freestyle (30.56 to finish 27th out of 58), 100m freestyle (1:07.73 to finish 34th out of 56) , 200m freestyle (2:30.95 to finish 20th out of 31), 400m freestyle (5:24.54 to finish 12th out of 18,) 800m freestyle (11:21.24 to finish 8th out of 9), 50m butterfly (35.39 to finish 28th out of 33), 100m butterfly (1:25.30 to finish 17th out of 19), and 100m backstroke (1:20.88 to finish 22nd out of 23).

Anisha Payet got three PBs in the 50m backstroke in 39.46 (old best 40.12) to finish 26th out of 27, 100m freestyle in 1:10.62 (old best 1:12) to finish 44th out of 56, and 50m butterfly in 35.25 (old best 36.15) to finish 27th out of 33).

She also swam the 50m freestyle (32.22 to finish 46th out of 61), 200m freestyle (2:38.66 to finish 25th out of 31), 400m freestyle (5:40.58 to finish 16th out of 18), 800m freestyle (11:42.17 to finish 9th out of 9) and 100m butterfly (1:27.50 to finish 18th out of 19).

Breaststroker Pierre-André Adam was entered to compete in the 50m freestyle, and 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, but could not do so after sustaining an injury in training on the eve of the championship in Singapore.

Speaking to Sports Nation, coach Barnsley Albert said he is satisfied with the results of most of the swimmers considering they have not been training in an Olympic-size pool for more than three months as the one at Roche Caïman is being renovated for the 8th Indian Ocean Island Games.

“Our number of training hours has reduced by half as we only get the pool at the Le Méridien Barbarons hotel for one hour daily. Because we cannot swim early in the morning, we do a lot of gym work which helps,” he said.

The championship attracted some big-name swimmers, among them world champion Therese Alshammar of Sweden. The 33-year-old, who has the word 'Diva' tattooed on her lower back, has won three Olympic medals and 11 gold medals at various World Championships since 2000. She also holds the world 50m long-course butterfly record of 25.07 seconds.

The Stockholm-born swimmer is said to be looking forward to next year's Olympic Games in London before considering calling time on her illustrious career after the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona.

Swimmers on the Japanese and Indonesian national teams also took part in the three-day championship.

G. G.