Aimee Canny wrapped up her Bombela Concession Company SA Swimming Championships campaign with a fourth Commonwealth Games qualifying time on Thursday night in Gqeberha.
The 22-year-old has been one of the standout performers at the national event, claiming four titles and securing qualifying times in each of them.
On Thursday, it was the 200m breaststroke title that Canny added to her collection, outgunning favourite Kaylene Corbett in the final 15m of the race to win in 2 minutes 23.61 seconds.
Corbett, who claimed a bronze medal in the event at last year’s World Aquatics Championships, was second in 2:23.72 – both under the required time for the Commonwealth Games, which take place in Glasgow in July/August. Defending champion Rebecca Meder was third in 2:27.36.
Better known as a freestyle swimmer at previous national championships, Canny said afterwards that she was quietly confident she was capable of completing a 100 and 200m breaststroke double at this event.
“I definitely didn't think I couldn't do it, but I hadn't really thought much about how much I'd improve at this meet,” she said. “Training's been going really well, so I'm super happy that it's kind of paying off in the pool.”
As for overtaking Corbett, who had led throughout, in the final metres of the race, Canny added: “I knew that we were going to go similar speeds out. And it was really fun on that last wall. I knew she was ahead of me, and I knew it was my last event, so I just kind of gave everything I could.”
While the championships continue until Saturday, Canny will be returning to her base in the USA on Friday.
Corbett explained afterwards that she has been trying to mix things up in terms of how she approaches the 200m race.
“I'm trying to start a new tactic, seeing how fast I can go out, trying to set out the pace that I need to go. So I think I'm… really happy with how I executed the race. I knew that Becky and Aimee were going to come back hard in the second hundred, so I just tried to hold on to anything that I had.
“She just out-touched me, but… it's the name of the sport and you should be able to take these things on the chin and move on. It's just really nice to see how we can empower one another and swim together and really enjoy being in a competitive environment with the girls that you love. You want to see them succeed just as much as they want to see you succeed. So I can't complain that Aimee beat me.”
Pieter Coetzé was the only other swimmer to achieve a Commonwealth Games qualifier on Thursday, adding the 100m freestyle to his 50 and 100m backstroke titles. Despite a start he felt was far from ideal, the 21-year-old still managed to dominate the race, claiming victory in 48.18 seconds.
“I messed up my dive a little bit. I don't know what it was. I feel like my hands maybe split a bit on the dive, but I’m glad I recovered it well,” he explained, having completed the first 50m in 23.03 seconds.
“I knew I wanted to be out fast. I want to be sub-23 going out because that’s just what the top guys are going out in, so I was hoping to be out under 23, but I’m happy with that.”
The women’s 100m freestyle was won by national record holder Erin Gallagher, who finished in 55.12 seconds, with Olivia Nel a close second in 55.17.
“I couldn't see anything to be honest… But I just knew that we were all going to be so close together,” said Gallagher. “So, I think I closed my eyes for the last 20 metres. I didn't breathe for the last 10. My legs literally are broken, but between Liv and I, it was so close. I'm just obviously happy I got my hand on the wall first, but I mean, a great swim to Liv and all the other girls too.”
Meanwhile, there was a first senior national title for Shaun Thomas, who won the 200m breaststroke in a time of 2:15.00. Karl Albertyn completed his individual medley double by winning the 400m event in a time of 4:24.83, while the women’s title went to Catherine van Rensburg in 4:56.26.
There was also much celebration for Minke Janse van Rensburg, who set a new world record for swimmers with Down syndrome in the 50m butterfly with a new mark of 36.86 seconds to better her own previous record of 37.25 seconds.
“I just want to say thank you to my coach. We trained hard… I’m very happy with the record,” said the multiple world record holder afterwards.
Swimming action continues at the Newton Park Swimming Pool on Friday and concludes on Saturday.
Commonwealth Games qualifiers achieved at the Bombela Concession Company SA Swimming Championships 2026:
Aimee Canny: 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley
Pieter Coetzé: 50, 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle
Kaylene Corbett: 200m breaststroke
Erin Gallagher: 100m butterfly
Rebecca Meder: 200m individual medley
Jessica Thompson: 50m backstroke
Ruard van Renen: 50, 100m backstroke