Roland Schoeman Launches Comeback at SA National Championships
Roland Schoeman is returning to elite-level international swimming, the 42-year-old sprinter taking part in the SA National Championships this week in Gqeberha, South Africa.
Schoeman has not competed at this level since 2016, when he fell short of qualifying for a fifth Olympics. He tested positive for a banned substance in 2019, and only in the fall of 2022 was his case resolved as an unintentional doping positive after adjudication by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Since, Schoeman has returned to masters meets in the United States – he remains based in Arizona, where he attended college and trained after graduation – but nationals is another step forward for the three-time Olympic gold medalist.
Schoeman was part of the legendary South African 400 free relay that won gold in Athens in 2004, the year that he added silver in the 100 free and bronze in the 50. He’s won three gold medals at the World Championships and four at the Commonwealth Games. He’s entered in the 50 free, 100 free and 50 butterfly at the meet, which serves as a qualifier for the 2023 World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Schoeman adds a different level of veteran to the competition, which makes Chad le Clos seem the like the young guy. Le Clos will turn 31 on the first day of the competition on Wednesday and will swim the 100 fly, 200 fly and 100 free. Le Clos has four World Championships gold medals to his name in the long-course pool.
“I think it’s going to be quite exciting,” he said in a Swimming South Africa press release. “It’s great that Roland’s back, it’s really amazing that he’s still swimming at his age and I think he’s going to be good. I’m feeling good, really confident, definitely different to the last two years that I’ve been swimming… Hopefully we have some good results. I’m just happy to be here in a good head space, good body – and we’ll see how we go.”
Also confirmed for the meet is the South African women’s breaststroke arsenal of 2022 Olympic gold medalist Tatjana Schoenmaker, Olympic finalist Kaylene Corbett and 2022 SA Sports Award Sportswoman of the Year Lara van Niekerk.
Pieter Coetze will have a six-event program, swimming all three backstroke events plus the 50 free, 100 free and 50 fly. Matt Sates will take on the 200 and 400 free along with the 200 and 400 IM.
He’s a four time Olympian