From L/R: Kathleen Russell, Zus Engelenberg, coach Rachael Finlayson, Freddie van der Goes, Rhoda Rennie.
In 1928 five South African female swimmers travelled to the Olympic Games in Amsterdam, accompanied by coach Rachael Finlayson. The won a bronze medal for finishing third in the 4x100m freestyle relay. This was the first Olympic swimming medal won by South African swimmers.
All the girls except Mary Bedford, were coached by Jimmy Green of Pretoria. Bedford was coached by Rachael Finlayson. Coach Green's swimmers had won all the women's events at the SA Swimming championships in East London in 1927, with Mary Bedford 2nd in the 50 yards freestyle.
In Amstersdam Kathleen Russell (15) was the fastest South African swimmer, winning her heat in 1:15,4 and qualifying for the next round. Zus Engelenberg was next fastest, in 1:22,6. Kathleen did not progress after the quarter finals.
Frederica van der Goes made the final of the 400m freestyle, finishing in 5th place.
The Olympic relay race was held before the individual 100m freestyle and the result accurately foreshadowed what was to happen in that event. Only seven countries competed but qualifying heats were still needed to remove one team from the competition. This provided the opportunity for the American team to break the world record which had stood since 1924. Bolstered by the introduction of Eleanor Garatti and Martha Norelius to the team for the final, the USA swam off into the distance and took another large chunk off the world record. The British held off the Dutch for silver with South Africa touching ahead of Germany.
The South African girls finished third in their semi-final, in 5:17,4. In the final they improved their time by 4 seconds, taking third place in 5:13,4. The Dutch women, who set a time of 5:08, in the semi's, were disqualified in the final for because Truus Baumeister started too early when taking over. The Dutch team was in second place when this happened.