Two Namibian swimmers excelled at the International Swimming Compe-tition in Berlin, Germany. The 9. International Sportbadpokal of SG Neukoelln Berlin 2005 also known as the Dietrich Bolz – Gedächtnis-schwimmen is one of the premier Age Group events on the European Conti-nent in the Spring.

Ashley Wheal (17), Victor Ludorum at the Namibian Championships in March and Victor Ludorum at the Zambian International in Lusaka in April bulleted his way to three Silver Medals over the two day competition. His first race the 100m breaststroke saw him breaking his own personal best established in January at the Subsaharan competition in Namibia by over a second. His time of 1:11.50 is an indication that he is now emerging into the ranks of senior International swimmers. In the 200m Individual Medley he again set a personal best and a silver medal with a time of 2:25,29. In his third race, the 200m breaststroke he rocketed out in the first half with a 1:16.59 split and brought the race home to touch in 2:38.30, another personal best and another Silver medal ! Ashley wrapped up the meet with a time of 59.26 in the 100m freestyle, just short of his own personal best of 59,25.

This is Ashley’s second opportunity to compete in Germany. When he was 15 he competed in an International Age Group event in Darmstadt. The experience he has gained this season not only in Germany but also in Zambia and swimming against other African Nations at the Subsahara International in Windhoek, puts him well up on the list to represent Namibia at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in ten months time.

Monique Marais (13), the most improved junior female swimmer within Marlins this past season, and the most improved swimmer in Zambia during the International in Lusaka also tested her mettle in Berlin, her first swimming outing outside the continent.

She entered into 7 events to gain racing experience and in the age group 90/91 (birth year) she churned up enough water to leave most competitors in her wake. By the time the weekend was over she had pocketed a Silver and two Bronze medals and established four personal best times. Her Silver medal came in her first race the 200m freestyle with her time of 2:27.94 a little more than a second faster than she swam in Zambia six weeks previously. The Bronze medals were won in the 100m Butterfly where she dropped her personal best by a full five seconds to finish in 1:21.95, and in the 100m Freestyle, her last race of the weekend where she finished in 1:08.20.

Monique has shown a great deal of improvement since breaking into the swimming scene just last season and is one of the hardest working females in Namibian swimming today. With a little more racing experience and another training cycle to go before her next International in Mauritius in August, we can expect to see a lot from this young talent.