Edmund Nel, representing the Harties Red Bear Swimming Club, made a splash at two of South Africa’s most prestigious national swimming competitions this April, showcasing a remarkable display of speed, skill, and determination.

Edmund Nel

Edmund delivered a standout performance at the Senior National Championships held in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape (9-13 April). He kicked off with a personal best in the 50m butterfly, clocking an impressive 25.95 seconds. He followed this up with a seasonal best of 52.97 seconds in the 100m freestyle. But it was in the 50m freestyle that Edmund truly shone — achieving a personal best, breaking the provincial record, and placing 9th overall in the country in the open age group with a blistering time of 23.43 seconds.
Just two weeks later, Edmund competed at the Junior National Championships at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town (25-29 April). He continued his strong form by recording another seasonal best in the 100m freestyle with a time of 52.95 seconds, earning him a 4th-place national ranking in the 18-year-old age group. In the 50m freestyle, Edmund raced to a 23.59, securing 2nd place and winning the silver medal.
With a season full of consistent improvement and record-breaking swims, Edmund closed out the championship series ranked 1st in the country in the 50m freestyle for his age group, and 9th nationally in the open age group — an outstanding achievement for the young swimmer.
Congratulations to Edmund Nel and his coach, Garth Tune, for a phenomenal season and for representing the Harties Red Bear Swimming Club with pride and excellence.