Articles related to swimming and other aquatic sports in southern Africa
World and Olympic records
Springboks
National colours were awarded to all South Africans who competed at international sports events.
2004 - How South African Swimmers Stole America's Olympic Gold
Academic articles by Professor Louis Grundligh
I am researching the history of Johannesburg's public spaces. Currently, I am working on the history of the Johannesburg zoo.
Albums and scrapbooks
Many people have contributed their collections to the site, including Dutch champion Ada Kok.
Biographies
A small number of biographies were published in 1949 and 1973.
Coaches
Professor Finney, Jimmy Green, Rachael Finlayson, and Alex Bulley were some of the early swimming coaches in South Africa.
Clubs
Organised competitive sports in South Africa developed after the British takeover of the Cape in 1806. Clubs, provincial and national governing bodies were set up from about 1843.
Disabled Swimming
Exiles
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.
Guestbook
Old Guestbook entries 2008 - 2014
Histories and Publications
Various magazines, books, and pamphlets have recorded the aquatic sports history of South Africa.
Iconic Swimming Pools in southern Africa →
In Memoriam
Athletes like Muriel Ensore-Smith, who died young. Many are forgotten.
Non-white swimming →
Aquatic sports history from the Coloured, Black, and Asian communities of South Africa, as reported in the press.
Politics →
An entire generation of South African athletes missed out on international competition between 1961 and 1991.
Pools and Places →
Swimming Pools, Tidal Pools, Dead Pools, Rivers, Dams and Quarries, Beaches, Marinas and Oceans where aquatic sports history was made in southern Africa.
Portuguese Mozambique
Neighbouring Mozambique had an active sporting culture, including swimming, diving, and sailing.
SAASU - South African Amateur Swimming Union
South African Universities
Tourists
Australian world champion Ernest Cavill toured the Cape in 1898.
Thys Lombard interviews
Video interviews of Geoff Grylls, Joan Harrison, Ann Fairlie and others.