The first Exiles were the men who won scholarships to the University of Oklahoma in 1952. Since then many athletes from southern Africa have taken up scholarships to compete at American universities - many never returned to their homeland.

National colours were awarded to all South Africans who competed at international sports events. 

Iconic swimming pools, Robben Island, Midmar Dam, and Sundays River are some locations where swimming history was made. 

Professor Finney, Jimmy Green, Rachael Finlayson, and Alex Bulley were some of the early swimming coaches in South Africa.

Australian world champion Ernest Cavill toured the Cape in 1898.

Neighbouring Mozambique had an active sporting culture, including swimming, diving, and sailing.

Various magazines, books, and pamphlets have recorded the aquatic sports history of South Africa. 

Many people have contributed their collections to the site, including Dutch champion Ada Kok.

Athletes like Muriel Ensore-Smith, who died young. Many are forgotten.

An entire generation of South African athletes missed out on international competition between 1961 and 1991.

Aquatic sports history from the Coloured, Black, and Asian communities of South Africa, as reported in the press.

A small number of biographies were published in 1949 and 1973.

Video interviews of Geoff Grylls, Joan Harrison, Ann Fairlie and others.