From millions of African Penguin in the early 1900s, there are now only about 8,000 breeding pairs left. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has elevated the bird’s risk of extinction status to “critically endangered”. “If we don’t act timeously, we could lose Africa’s only penguin species within our lifetime,” an expert warns. The economic value of the iconic bird is in the billions of rands, according to a new report. It is official: the African Penguin, the continent’s … [Read more...] about African Penguins Now Officially “Critically Endangered”
Swimming
South Africa Needs More Nautical Scientists and Maritime Engineers – If You Love the Sea These May Be the Careers for You
When most people are asked to picture an engineer at work, they probably imagine a civil engineer in a hard hat at a construction site, a chemical engineer in a laboratory or an electrical engineer examining a complex circuit board. Very few, I’m willing to bet, visualise someone aboard a ship.But, for those drawn both to engineering and a seafaring life, marine engineering and nautical science are ideal careers – especially in a country like South Africa, uniquely positioned where the Atlantic … [Read more...] about South Africa Needs More Nautical Scientists and Maritime Engineers – If You Love the Sea These May Be the Careers for You
Latest science confirms plummeting penguin population
On June 23 2000, when – like now – Cape Town was in the icy grip of mid-winter, South Africa suffered what was called the world’s worst coastal seabird environmental disaster.That was the day when the fully laden ore-carrier MV Treasure broke up and sank some 8km north of Robben Island while a salvage tug was attempting to tow it to safety. The stricken vessel spilled more than 1,100 tons of highly toxic heavy fuel oil into the ocean, covering with oil tens of thousands of African Penguins from … [Read more...] about Latest science confirms plummeting penguin population
Newton Park: “10 Year Old Me Would Be Absolutely Shocked…”
Teen sensation Pieter Coetzé wrapped up the SA Swimming Championships in Gqeberha with his fifth gold medal of the meet on Saturday, 13 April 2024. The 19-year-old once again outgunned one of his childhood role models, Roland Schoeman, to take the 50m freestyle title in 22.45 seconds. Clayton Jimme finished second in 22.83 with Guy Brooks taking the bronze in 23.00. The 43-year-old Schoeman finished just off the podium in fourth place in 23.07. Coetzé admitted afterwards that a long week … [Read more...] about Newton Park: “10 Year Old Me Would Be Absolutely Shocked…”
Newton Park: 5 Olympic qualifiers at SA champs
Erin Gallagher powered to her second national record of the week on the penultimate night of action at the SA Swimming Championships in Gqeberha on Friday. The Pretoria swimmer stormed to the national title in the 100m butterfly in a time of 57.32 seconds, also dipping under the Olympic qualifying time of 57.92. That saw her bettering the African record she set at the World Championships in Doha earlier this year. The 25-year-old admitted afterwards her body had not felt good in the … [Read more...] about Newton Park: 5 Olympic qualifiers at SA champs
Newton Park: Coetzé clocks another Olympic qualifier
Pieter Coetzé added a fourth gold medal to his growing haul at the SA National Swimming Championships in Gqeberha on Thursday while also registering two Olympic qualifying times in the 100m backstroke. The 19-year-old swam 53.05 seconds in the morning heats to dip under the required 53.74 seconds to reach the Olympic Games and went even quicker in the evening final, finishing in 52.89 seconds to take the title. While he was pleased with the win, the Pretoria swimmer was hoping his closest … [Read more...] about Newton Park: Coetzé clocks another Olympic qualifier
Newton Park: Smith, Corbett and Coetzé light up third night of SA Swimming Championships
Tatjana Smith produced her two best times in the 200m breaststroke since her gold-medal winning performance in Tokyo three years ago on the third day of action at the SA National Swimming Championships in Gqeberha on Wednesday. The former world record holder in the event swam a sensational 2:19.92 in the morning heats and then went even quicker in the final, storming to another national title in a time of 2:19.01. That places her top in the world so far this year, overtaking American Kate … [Read more...] about Newton Park: Smith, Corbett and Coetzé light up third night of SA Swimming Championships
Newton Park: Coetzé claims second gold as Sates bags butterfly title in Le Clos’s absence
Pieter Coetzé added the 100m freestyle title to his 50m freestyle gold on the second night of action at the SA National Swimming Championships in Gqeberha on Tuesday. The 19-year-old powered to victory in a time of 49.12 seconds to edge out veteran Chad le Clos who had chosen to focus on defending his 100m freestyle final rather than the 200m butterfly later in the evening. Le Clos finished second in 49.34 seconds with Guy Brooks taking the bronze in 49.42. Speaking after the race, Coetzé, … [Read more...] about Newton Park: Coetzé claims second gold as Sates bags butterfly title in Le Clos’s absence
National Butterfly Record Tumbles at Newton Park
Both Erin Gallagher and Tatjana Smith made strong opening statements on the first day of action at the SA National Swimming Championships in Gqeberha on Monday. Gallagher claimed the 50m butterfly title in a new SA record of 25.59 seconds to get her week off to the best possible start, with the 50 and 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly still to come. “This afternoon I had a really good energy and I could feel that if I was going to swim a PB, now was the time to do it,” she said afterwards. … [Read more...] about National Butterfly Record Tumbles at Newton Park
Olympic places on the line at Gqeberha SA Swimming Championships
The country's top swimmers head to Gqeberha next week for the National Championships which this year take on extra importance as they serve as Olympic trials ahead of Paris 2024. Among them, and looking to confirm his spot at a fourth Olympic Games, is veteran Chad le Clos. The 31-year-old has returned to the country from his training base in Frankfurt, Germany and says being at home for the past week has made all the difference. “It’s been a little bit hard being away for so long. So … [Read more...] about Olympic places on the line at Gqeberha SA Swimming Championships
Schoenmaker completes breaststroke double as Le Clos reclaims 100m freestyle crown
Tatjana Schoenmaker secured the national 200m breaststroke title in the second fastest time in the world this year at the SA National Aquatic Championships in Gqeberha on Friday.The world record holder and Olympic champion in the event cruised to victory in a time of 2:22.44 with her training partner, Kaylene Corbett, second in 2:25.40 – both A qualifying times for the Swimming World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan in July. Schoenmaker admitted afterwards that the vocal crowd at the Newton Park … [Read more...] about Schoenmaker completes breaststroke double as Le Clos reclaims 100m freestyle crown
Show Stealers
While returning veteran Roland Schoeman put in an admirable performance in his comeback, it was Chad le Clos, Erin Gallagher and Lara van Niekerk who stole the show on the fourth night of swimming at the SA National Aquatic Championships in Gqeberha, which also featured numerous other standout performances on Saturday.Following his victories in the 200m butterfly and 100m freestyle, Le Clos continued to impress in the 100m butterfly, powering to an Olympic qualifying time of 51.37 and outgunning … [Read more...] about Show Stealers
Coetzé wraps up Gqeberha SA champs with another Olympic qualifier
Teen swimming sensation Pieter Coetzé wrapped up the SA National Aquatic Championships in Gqeberha with another Olympic qualifying time on Sunday.The 18-year-old, who has already recorded a qualifying time for Paris 2024 in the 100m backstroke, added the 200m backstroke time, cruising to victory in 1:56.66 – also an A qualifier for the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan later this year. Coetzé withdrew from the 50m butterfly final on Sunday to focus on the backstroke event and was duly … [Read more...] about Coetzé wraps up Gqeberha SA champs with another Olympic qualifier
Records fall on opening day of SA Swimming Champs in Gqeberha
Olympic star Tatjana Schoenmaker ensured she was not to be outdone again in the 100m breaststroke, regaining her national title on the opening night of the SA National Aquatic Championships in Gqeberha on Wednesday ahead of teen rival and Commonwealth Games champion Lara van Niekerk.There was a massive sigh of relief for the Olympic silver medallist in the event as she claimed the title in a time of 1:05.89 – not that she had beaten her young opponent who claimed the title last year – but that … [Read more...] about Records fall on opening day of SA Swimming Champs in Gqeberha
Records Continue Tumbling at SA swimming champs
Rebecca Meder and Olivia Nel ensured the record-breaking continued on the second night of action at the SA National Aquatic Championships in Gqeberha on Thursday.Meder kicked things off in the 200m individual medley, bettering her own SA record set at last year’s Commonwealth Games to claim the title in a speedy 2:11.39. That ensured she dipped well under the A qualifying time for the Swimming World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan this July. It also saw her swimming under the even more stringent … [Read more...] about Records Continue Tumbling at SA swimming champs
