Leith Shankland
29 July 2014 : Bronze medallists (L-R) Leith Shankland, Chad le Clos, Cameron van der Burgh and Sebastien Rousseau of South Africa pose during the medal ceremony for the Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final at Tollcross International Swimming Centre during day six of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Leith Shankland was born in Springs on 30 June 1991. He attended Westville BHS near Durban, where he swam with coach Graham Hill.
He competed in the 4 × 100 metre medley relay event at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He is 6'5" and 200 lbs. He also competed at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. He won a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 metre medley relay and a silver in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay. He also qualified for the 100m freestyle final. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, he was part of the South African teams that won silver in the men's 4 x 100 m freestyle relay and bronze in the men's 4 x 100 m medley relay.
Personal best times
| Event | Course | Time | Pts. | Date | City (Nation) | Meet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m Freestyle | 50m | 23.11 | 740 | 10 Apr 2014 | Durban | South African Championships |
| 50m Freestyle | 25m | 22.21 | 747 | 13 Dec 2012 | Istanbul (TUR) | FINA: 11th World Short Course ... |
| 100m Freestyle | 50m | 49.35 | 856 | 26 Jul 2014 | Glasgow (GBR) | XX Commonwealth Games |
| 100m Freestyle | 25m | 47.30 | 851 | 31 Aug 2014 | Dubai (UAE) | FINA: World Cup No 2 - 2014 Series |
| 200m Freestyle | 50m | 1:50.96 | 776 | 4 Mar 2012 | London (GBR) | British Championships |
| 200m Freestyle | 25m | 1:44.78 | 852 | 1 Sep 2014 | Dubai (UAE) | FINA: World Cup No 2 - 2014 Series |
| 400m Freestyle | 50m | 4:52.23 | 427 | 15 Dec 2004 | Kings Park | KZN Level 2-3 Provincial ... |
| 50m Backstroke | 50m | 26.61 | 693 | 2 Jun 2012 | Barcelona (ESP) | Mare Nostrum |
| 50m Backstroke | 25m | 24.78 | 710 | 5 Oct 2017 | Doha (QAT) | FINA: World Cup No 5 - 2017 Series |
| 100m Backstroke | 50m | 57.06 | 739 | 16 Dec 2017 | Durban | KZNA Premier Champs & Commonwe |
| 100m Backstroke | 25m | 54.27 | 706 | 4 Oct 2017 | Doha (QAT) | FINA: World Cup No 5 - 2017 Series |
| 200m Backstroke | 50m | 2:11.23 | 620 | 1 Apr 2008 | Durban | South African Championships |
| 200m Backstroke | 25m | 1:59.26 | 694 | 17 Oct 2009 | Durban | FINA: World Cup No 1 - 2009 Series |
| 50m Breaststroke | 50m | 39.68 | 279 | 15 Dec 2004 | Kings Park | KZN Level 2-3 Provincial ... |
| 50m Butterfly | 50m | 25.65 | 654 | 7 Jun 2012 | Canet-En-Roussillon (FRA) | Mare Nostrum |
| 50m Butterfly | 25m | 24.83 | 672 | 4 Oct 2017 | Doha (QAT) | FINA: World Cup No 5 - 2017 Series |
| 100m Butterfly | 50m | 55.87 | 693 | 10 Jun 2012 | Monte-Carlo (MON) | Mare Nostrum |
| 100m Medley | 25m | 53.44 | 784 | 31 Aug 2014 | Dubai (UAE) | FINA: World Cup No 2 - 2014 Series |
| 200m Medley | 25m | 2:19.84 | 481 | 7 Sep 2008 | Germiston | South African Short Course ... |
| 50m Freestyle Lap | 25m | 21.88 | - | 8 Aug 2014 | Durban | South African Short Course ... |
| 100m Freestyle Lap | 50m | 48.14 | - | 25 Jul 2014 | Glasgow (GBR) | XX Commonwealth Games |
| 100m Freestyle Lap | 25m | 47.07 | - | 7 Aug 2014 | Durban | South African Short Course ... |
| 200m Freestyle Lap | 50m | 1:49.84 | - | 16 Aug 2011 | Shenzhen (CHN) | XXVI Universiade |
| 200m Freestyle Lap | 25m | 1:44.31 | - | 4 Dec 2014 | Doha (QAT) | FINA: 12th World Short Course ... |
10 June 2012: Princess Charlene of Monaco (C) poses with (L-R) Leith Shankland, Chad Le Clos Graham Hill and Ben Titley during the 30th International Swimming Competition Gala Dinner on June 10, 2012 in Monaco, Monaco.
Durban’s Olympic Swimmer
While the world holds its breath for the 2012 London Olympics, WBHS is putting its full support behind the SA Swimming Team which has no less than 3 Westville old boys taking to the pool for SA, Chad le Clos, Leith Shankland and Charl Crous. And to add to this, the Olympic Swimming Coach, Graham Hill is another Westville old boy. This is the first time in the history of the Olympic Games that so many swimmers from one school are representing their country at the games.
GO TO www.wbhs.co.za and click on Bulletins for a schedule of when Chad, Charl and Leith are swimming.
Photos and writing by Westville Boys High School
https://showme.co.za/durban/interactive/durbans-olympic-swimmer/