23 Feb 2020

Three Batswana swimmers, James Freeman, Andile Bekker and Junior Keitsile made the nation proud by winning gold medals at the on-going CANA Zone IV swimming championships in Gaborone.

Freeman won the men 15 and  over 400 metres  freestyle with a time of 4:12,82  followed by his countryman Andile Bekker with 4:17,45,while position three went to South African Wietske Westhuizen, with  4:23,52 .

Freeman continued to shine in the men 17 and over 50 metres freestyle winning another gold medal with a time of 24, 43, followed by Zimbabwean,  Joash McKonie, with 24, 59, while Malawian got a bronze with Filipe Gomes, 24, 63

In the men 17 and over 200 meters backstroke, Freeman won a silver with 2:17, 64.

Junior Kristie continued with his good performance by delivery a gold medal, in the men 12 and  under 50 metres  freestyle with a time of 28.01,followed by Alexander Payet, of  Seychelles with  28,31 while Kyle Heyns,of

Zimbabwe won bronze with 29,86.

In the men 12 and  under 100 metres  butterfly, Botswana was robbed a gold medal, after Keitsile pulled a muscle just some metres away from the finish line, however he fought like a soldier at the battlefield pushed until he got a silver medal with a time of 1:12.85

Bekker also hoisted the country’ flag high in the Men 15-16, 200 metres Backstroke winning a gold medal with a time of 2:16,54,followed by Victor AH Yong of Mauritius  with 2:20,33, position three went to South African Ramon Landmann, with 2:20,57

In the women 13-14 metres backstroke, Kimberley Ingwe won a silver with 2:37.91 and she went on to win a bronze in the 100metres butterfly with 1:13.59.

In the women 17 and  over 100 metres  breast stroke,  Ruvarashe Gondo,  won a bronze with 1:28,15, Ethan Fischer winning a silver with a time of 1:07,96 in the men 17 and over  100 metres  breaststroke, while Brandon

Rouse,also won a bronze for Botswana  with 25,82 in the men 15-16, 50 metres freestyle, Botswana also won a bronze in the 400 meters medley relay.

At the end of the events on Saturday, Botswana was on position three after winning a total of nine gold, 13 silver and 16 bronze.

Zimbabwe was on position one with 25 gold,24 silver and 16 bronze, while Namibia occupied position two with 23 gold,11 silver and 16 bronze. ENDS