Sarah Poewe

Sarah Poewe with former Cape Town coach Karoly von Törrös from the Vineyard Swimming Club.

At the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the 17-year-old Poewe competed for the South African swimming team in three events. She reached the finals in the 100-meter breaststroke and finished in fourth place (1:07.85), missing a medal by 0.30 seconds. Poewe also competed in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:25.72), finishing in sixth place, but only .37 seconds from a medal. Her 4x100-meter medley team finished in fifth place with a time of 4:05.15. In 2001, Poewe won the South African National Championships in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:08.02 (four-and-a-half seconds ahead of the second-place finisher); the time automatically qualified her for the World Championships.

She said following the race: "I am so happy with it. It's my third-best time ever. I had a good feeling this was going to be a good nationals for me." In June, at the World Meet in Barcelona, Sarah won the 50-meter breaststroke (32.10) and the 100-meter breaststroke (1:09.14), and finished third in the 200-meter (2:29.25). At the 2001 World Championships, Poewe finished fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:08.52 (only 0.02 seconds from the bronze medal). She also competed in the 50-meter breaststroke, making the final and finishing seventh (32.03). She also made it to the semifinals in the 200-meter breaststroke but finished 11th overall with a time of 2:28.76.

At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, she captured the silver in the 200-meter breaststroke and 4x100-meter relay and took the bronze in the 50-meter and 100-meter breaststroke. Following the Commonwealth Games, Poewe decided to participate internationally under the flag of Germany; she has dual citizenship because her father is German.

At the 2003 World Championships, Poewe competed in the 100-meter breaststroke and finished in fourth place with a time of 1:08.06. In the 200-meter breaststroke, she reached the finals and placed sixth with a time of 2:26.72. In the 50-meter breaststroke, Sarah finished seventh with a time of 32.03.

Poewe represented Germany in the 2004 Athens Games. On August 15th she swam a 1:07.97 time, in the heats of the 100-meter breaststroke event, and qualified for the semifinals. In the semis, held later that day, she clocked in at 1:07.48, which was the second fastest qualifying time all-around. However, Sarah slowed down a bit in the final, as her 1:07.53 time saw her come in fifth. Poewe swam the second leg for Germany, as part of the 4X100-meter medley relay team in heat 1 on August 20. The Germans finished second (4:04.16) and thus qualified automatically for the finals held on August 21. Sarah swam the second leg again in the final, with a personal time of 1:07.38, as Germany won the bronze (4:00.72).

Poewe and Heyns set for showdown

 20 March 2000

Sarah Poewe, South Africa's latest world champion, goes up against her idol Penny Heyns, South Africa's Olympic champion, in two weeks time at the national swimming championships. Both women will be in action in the two breaststroke events at the championships, which start in Durban on April 1. It will be almost like a dress rehearsal for the Olympics where Heyns will defend her 100m and 200m breaststroke titles in the pool at Sydney. Poewe emerged from Heyns's shadow at the weekend, taking two titles in the breaststroke at the world short-course championships in Athens.

Poewe has beating of Heyns, says coach

September 8, 2000

Leading South African swimming coach Karoly von Toros will be flying the flags of two different nations on the pool deck when the eagerly awaited Olympic gala gets under way at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre next weekend. The Hungarian-born coach is charged with shaping the careers of two talented young southern African swimmers, both of whom will be in action at these Games. Von Toros, who was head coach of the South African swimming team for the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, coaches rising breaststroke stars Sarah Poewe, of South Africa, and South African-born Swaziland national Wickus Nienaber. Nienaber, who trains with Von Toros and Poewe in Cape Town, will come up against South African contenders Terence Parkin and Brett Petersen in the 100m breaststroke event.

Poewe, 17, who has been under the wing of Von Toros ever since she started competitive swimming as a nine-year-old, goes head to head with her fellow countrywoman, double defending Olympic champion and world record holder Penny Heyns. And the coach is particularly excited about Poewe's prospects of poaching a possible medal. "If the 100m breaststroke final were taking place tomorrow, Sarah would be ready to take on the world, such is her conditioning," he enthused. "She knows she has a chance to earn a medal, even as a 17-year-old, because she is mature way beyond her years."

Von Toros said that because Poewe, at one time or another, had beaten all the top Olympic contenders in her event - including Heyns - in the lead-up to the Games, her confidence was sky high. In the recent Telstra Grand Prix in Melbourne, Poewe finished a close second to Australian Leisel Jones after recording a respectable time of 1min:08,9sec. "She was not tapering, had done no speed work and was tired from all the training, so I was very happy with her performance in Melbourne, which we used just to test where she is," explained her coach.

On the Canada-based Heyns, who won the 100m and 200m breaststroke titles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Von Toros warned that she should never be written off. "The last time we saw Penny was in Durban two months ago when Sarah beat her, so we don't know too much about how she's getting on," he said. "But she swam well in the recent Canadian Olympic trials, and knowing her, there is little doubt that she will be coming into her best form now." Personally, Von Toros said, he would love to see both South Africans on the podium - but he would not say in which order.  

Poewe shines in Germany

May 28, 2002

Cape Town Sarah Poewe made her debut for the German Swimming Club, SG Wuppertal by winning gold in the 100m breaststroke during the country's national gala in Warendorf over the past few days. The whole Germany is now talking about the new "swimming asset" gained from South Africa. The German website, Schwimmwelt excitedly referred to Poewe's 1:09.78 victory as being by a new swimming asset gained form South Africa by the German swimming union. Poewe, who matriculated from the Deutsche Schule in Cape Town last year, holds dual citizenship.

Apparently the Germans are trying to entice this top swimmer, one of the best breaststroke exponents in the world, to Germany. This is another reason why South Africa should look after its elite swimmers much better. The country cannot afford an exodus of swimmers of the quality of Poewe. The 19-year old South African breaststroke champion left for Germany last week to compete in that country' national gala. She has been included in the preliminary South African team for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in July.

However, the carrots Germany will dangle in front of her may be equally attractive. The European Gala is due to be held in Berlin later this year. Poewe does not have her equal in breaststroke in South Africa. Three years ago she missed the podium by the proverbial hair's breadth at the Sydney Olympics when Sharks came fourth in the 100m breaststroke. The Capetonian won double gold in the world short course gala three years ago in Athens and was once again the most successful South African swimmer at this year's edition of the event, winning a medal in Moscow. On Saturday Poewe came third in the 50m breaststroke in 32.39.

Simone Weiler, who played second fiddle to Poewe in the 100m won the battle over the shorter distance in 31.89. Janne Schafer came second in 32.17. Germany's swimming darling Franziska van Almsick celebrated her return to swimming by setting the fastest time of the past three years in the 200m crawl (1:57.75). And on the other side of the globe, the probable biggest threat to Poewe at the Commonwealth Games, Australia's Leisel Jones won the 100m breaststroke in that country's Grand Prix Gala in a convincing time of 1:09.72.  

South Africa’s Sarah Poewe in Auto Accident; May Knock Her Out of Commonwealth Games

CAPE TOWN, July 16, 2002

OLYMPIC swimmer Sarah Poewe has been admitted to a Cape Town hospital after a car accident last Saturday, in which she apparently crashed her car into a tree. It is believed that Poewe injured an elbow in the accident and her condition is not serious, but it cast some doubt over her participation at the Commonwealth Games in two weeks. Poewe, who matriculated from the Deutsche Schule in Cape Town last year and holds dual citizenship, had planned to represent South Africa for the last time at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester before moving to Germany, where she has already made her racing debut for the Swimming Club SG Wuppertal at the Nationals in Warendorf, winning the 100 breast.

Sarah Poewe with the South African women's medley relay team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. They won silver in the 4x100 medley relay - with Charlene Wittstock, Heleen Muller and Mandy loots

UGA swimmer Poewe sets German records

December 20, 2002  

University of Georgia freshman women's swimmer Sarah Poewe set three German records at the European Short Course Championships in Riesa, Germany, on Dec. 12-15.  Poewe, who has dual citizenship in Germany and South Africa, teamed with Janine Pietsch, Nele Hofmann and Antje Buschschulte to finish second in the 200-meter medley relay (1:49.25).  Poewe finished second to Sweden's Emma Igelstrom in the 50-meter breast. Igelstrom, the world record holder in the event, edged Poewe (30.89 to 30.90).  Poewe also set a course record with her first-place finish in the 100-meter breast (1:06.67). The mark broke the previous record of 1:06.95 set by Poland's Alicja Peczak on Dec. 17, 2000.

GEORGIA SWIMMER SARAH POEWE SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON THE UPCOMING OLYMPIC GAMES

Aug. 9, 2004

Sarah Poewe, a a rising junior at Georgia, will represent Germany in the upcoming Olympic Games. In her career with the Lady Bulldogs, Poewe has tallied eight All-America honors and claimed her first league title in 2004 with a 1:00.07 in the 100y breast. The 2004 competition marks Poewe's second trip to the Olympics, having finished fourth in the 100m breast and sixth in the 200m breast as a member of the South African team in Sydney.

In Athens, she'll be swimming the 100m breaststroke and the 4x100m medley relay.

Q: How does the experience of the Olympic Games differ from that of swimming at the collegiate level?

A: There is no comparison between college swimming and the Olympic Games. It is a whole different level of racing, especially on a mental level.

Q: How has swimming at Georgia prepared you for this experience?

A: Being part of a college team has taught me a great deal. First, being part of a team, one is appointed to race hard not only for yourself but for the whole team. Second, being part of the Georgia team is an honour as we came in second in the nation at the NCAAs. That was an experience of a lifetime. The team is hard-working and dedicated, and when the going gets tough the dogs are always at their best. That is what I love about the team : ) 

Home sweet home.

February 2nd, 2007

Sarah Poewe returns home to find that lost magic: German international Sarah Poewe has returned to her Cape Town roots as she searches for the edge that made her one of the world’s best breaststroke swimmers. She has been training in the city since last August as part of her preparations for next year’s Olympics with long-time former coach Karoly von Toros. Poewe, still only 23, says she came back to Van Toros because of their understanding. “Karoly discovered me when I was 10 and gave me the courage and support I needed.” They both claim there has been a rapid improvement in her performance already.

Britta Steffen, Annika Mehlhorn, Sarah Poewe and Daniela Samulski of Germany receive the bronze medal during the medal ceremony for the Women's 4x 100m Medley Relay Fina at the 13th FINA World Championships at the Stadio del Nuoto on August 1, 2009 in Rome, Italy.

Poewe can take on world

25th July, 2000

If South Africa's Sarah Poewe wins a medal in the women's 100 or 200-metre breaststroke event at the Sydney Olympics, she will look back to the 26th of June 2000 when she beat Penny Heyns for the first time as the turning point in her career.

For the 17-year old Poewe, beating the Olympic champion and world record holder in the final of the 100m breaststroke at a winter indoor meeting in Durban represented the crossing of a major psychological hurdle.

Poewe's coach Karoly von Toros was naturally ecstatic. "She had already beaten all the best swimmers in the world in the breaststroke, except Penny. At last she has done it. It is like a milestone for us, " said the Hungarian-born Von Toros.

Despite their developing rivalry, Poewe is full of praise for Heyns' unselfish attitude in dispensing advice and guidance.

"Penny is a great inspiration to the entire South African swimming team. She is always available to give advice and she is always prepared to share her experience with us," said Poewe.

Although Poewe is aiming to ascend the medal podium, she regards the Sydney Olympics as a stepping stone for the 2004 Games in Athens.

She said: "My career is only starting - I'm still learning. My main goal is to make a major assault at the 2004 Games. Any medal I win in Sydney would be regarded as a bonus," said the slightly-built Capetonian.

Ability

Von Toros feels Poewe has the ability to win a medal in the shorter distance in Sydney. "She's developed much faster than I expected - I didn't expect her to reach the stage of development she is presently at so quickly. I am quite confident that she will win a medal in the 100m.

"But this is only the beginning of her career. I expect her to be much better by the time the next Olympics comes around in 2004." Being named in the South African swimming team for the Olympics is in itself the realisation of a childhood ideal for Poewe.

"It's any athlete's dream to represent his or her country at the Olympic Games. What makes it even more special is that I am the youngest athlete ever to represent South Africa at the Olympics." Despite her tender age - she is 8 years younger than Heyns - Poewe won't be overawed by competing against older, more experienced swimmers.

Having started international competion at the age 14 when she competed in the Pan Pacific Games in Japan in 1997, Poewe has developed the hard edge needed to succeed at the highest level.

"Competing internationally has made me mentally tougher and has enabled me to mature much more quickly as a person.

"I'm always around people who are several years older than me. Participating in international meetings has certainly been an eye-opener for me.

"I've really learnt a lot. I love travelling and the place I've enjoyed most was Russia which has a totally different lifestyle."

At the World Youth Games in Russia two years ago, Poewe showed her class by winning won gold in the 100 and 200m breaststroke.

Award

Such was the impression she created that when she also won an award for the best female swimmer. This year she already has an impressive collection of six gold medals and two silvers from the Sheffield, Berlin and Athens legs of the World Cup series.

Poewe's mother Lorraine cannot wait to see her daughter getting under starter's orders in the impressive Sydney Olympic pool.

"Sarah has been committed for seven years. Training twice a day for almost six hours, fitness exercising, and mental stimulation have meant she has missed up to five months schooling a year. This year she is out of school altogether. The strain has been enormous on us all," said Mrs Poewe. Sarah who will complete her final two grades of school next year, doesn't care - Olympic glory comes first.

Her build-up to the games has been meticulously planned. After campaigning in Europe in July she goes to a specialised training programme before swimming in an international meeting in Melbourne at the end of August.

Then the final countdown begins when she checks into the Olympic Village in Sydney on 2 September, two weeks before the opening ceremony.