Analysis of the African participation in FINA world Championships 1993-2016

49 medals in 13 participations

The African continent has shone at each participation in a World Championships (Short course ): 49 medals of which 23 gold, 17 silver and 9 bronze were won by 13 swimmers from 4 different countries : RSA 10, ZIM 1 , TUN 1 and Algeria 1. This represents an average of more than 3 medals per edition. African swimmers reached 122 finals (represented by 6 different countries RSA, ZIM, TUN, ALG, EGY, and KEN), which means an average of more than 9 finals per edition. They have set 135 new African records (shared amongst 5 countries RSA, ZIM, TUN, ALG, and EGY) which represents an average of more than 10 records per edition and 5 world records ( by 2 countries RSA and ZIM).

Seven swimmers won gold: Chad Le Clos (RSA), Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), Oussama Mellouli (TUN), Ryk Neethling (RSA), Sarah Poewe (RSA), Cameron Van Der Burg (RSA) and Suzan Van Biljon (RSA) .

The first world titles won by the continent date back to 16th and 19th March 2000 in Athens with Sarah Poewe (RSA) on 50m and 100m breaststroke and 8th October 2004 in Indianapolis with Tunisian Oussama Mellouli on 400m medley.
Le Clos untouchable South Africa has the lion’s share with 35 medals (17 gold, 14 silver, and 4 bronze) , ie more than 70% of the total, 96 finals (ie more than 78% of the total) and 109 African records ( more than 80% of the total).

Since 2014 Chad Le Clos has become the most suc-cessful African swimmer, winning 11 medals of which 9 gold and 2 silver as well as setting 2 new world records on 100m butterfly in 2014 and 2016. The legendary Le Clos has won his 11 medals in the 4 editions of 2010-2012-2014-2016. The first African swimmer to reach a final was Marianne Kriel, 7th on 100m back-stroke and 8th on 50m freestyle in 1993 in Palma de Mallorca.

The breakthrough of Penny Heyns (RSA) in the 3rd edition of the Word Championships in Hong Kong in 1999, offered Africa its first podiums : 3 silver medals on 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke.

However it was Kirsty Coventry(ZIM) who was the most impressive with 5 podiums : 4 gold and 1 bronze in 2008 in Manchester (GBR) in addition to setting 3 world records and 15 African records in only one participation .
The first titles of Sarah Poewe and Oussama Mellouli Ryk Neethling (RSA) won a nice triple in 2006 in Shanghai on 100m, 200m freestyle and 100m medley .

Cameron Van Der Burg (RSA) has distinguished himself in four editions 2008-2010-2014 and 2016 winning a remarkable total of 6 medals: 2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze. Suzan Van Biljon (RSA) won 3 podiums in breaststroke: 1 gold ,1 silver and 1 bronze between 2006-2008. Terence Parkin (RSA) on 200m breaststroke and 400 medley and Brendon Dedekind (RSA) on 50m free-style and 50m breaststroke have each won 2 silver medals in 2000. Gerhard Zandberg (RSA) ,William Diering (RSA) won only bronze in 2008 on 50m freestyle and 200m breaststroke .

The countries from North Africa, Tunisia and Algeria were also on the podiums between 2002 and 2014 having won 9 medals with 2 swimmers, Oussama Mellouli (TUN): 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze in addition to making 12 finals and setting 5 African records in 3 participa-tions 2004-2010 and 2014 while Salim Iles (ALG) won 1 silver and a bronze in 2002 and 2004
Butterfly brings the most World titles Even though they did not win any medal, Kenya and Egypt have made at least one final in a World Championships with Rania El Wani on 50m freestyle in 1999 and Jason Dunford on 100m butterfly in 2008 and 2010.
The greatest number of African participation was recorded in Doha in 2014 with 130 swimmers from 35 countries however the most successful one was in Manchester in 2008 with 11 medals: 5 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze in addition to 24 finals and 30 new African records.
African swimmers won most medals on breaststroke with 18 podiums of which 5 gold, followed by butterfly: 9 medals all in gold and finally medley :8 medals of which 4 gold.

Breakdown of African medals by style .