The South African Ice-Boks team stunned the world at the 6th IISA World Ice Swimming Championships in Italy, bringing home 24 medals and five world records. They climbed into the world's top 10, proving South Africa's growing strength in the sport.
Team South Africa , known as the Ice Boks, achieved remarkable success at the 6th IISA World Ice Swimming Championships held in Molveno, Italy, in January. Competing in frigid conditions with water temperatures dropping to a bone-chilling 1.1°C, the nine-member team secured an impressive haul of 24 medals and five world records across various age groups. This exceptional performance propelled South Africa into the world's top 10 ice swimming nations.
The team's success was spearheaded by athletes like Reino von Wielligh, one of South Africa's most decorated ice swimmers. Von Wielligh, competing in the elite overall races, clinched silver in the 500m freestyle, bronze in the grueling 1000m freestyle, and another bronze in the 250m freestyle. He further solidified his dominance by capturing four additional gold and silver medals in the 30-34 age group, including a world record of 2:45.0 for the 250m freestyle.Another standout performer was Marcelle Stiemans, who reigned supreme in the 55-59 age group. Stiemans claimed four gold medals in the 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, and 200m individual medley, setting four world records in her age group for the 50m backstroke (38.82 sec), 50m butterfly (36.42sec), 50m freestyle (33.06 sec), and the 200 individual medley (3min:12sec). The young talent Luc-François Bonnici, at just 15 years old, secured the Under-18 50m backstroke gold medal in his first-ever world championships. With a total of 24 medals, South Africa secured the 10th position, showcasing their growing prowess in a sport traditionally dominated by northern hemisphere countries.
Ice Swimming World Championships South Africa Ice-Boks Medals World Records
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