Local Champions

Since the 1950s, athletes from southern Africa have left the country to compete overseas. Some returned, while most never did, becoming Exiles from their home country. 

While many of these travelling competitors were national champions before they left, never returning to their homeland, or to defend their titles, many were not.

See an incomplete list of swimmers, divers and water polo players who won scholarships to American universities here.

After the sports boycott of South Africa ended in 1992, some athletes did periodically return to compete locally, to gain selection to South African teams competing at international events like the Olympic Games and the World Championships. 

At the 2025 nationals in Port Elizabeth, seven swimmers qualified for the World Championships in Singapore. Michael Houlie and Rebecca Meder, who live in the USA and New Zealand, respectively, returned for the SA championships. The other five qualifying swimmers were all based in South Africa. Duné Coetzee, who swims for the University of Georgia, won four events, although she did not swim a qualifying time. Local swimmers Pieter Coetzé and Matthew Sates both won 5 titles. 

South African sports events can be divided into three eras - before the sports boycott (1900 - 1961); during the boycott (1962- 1991) and since re-admission to international competition in 1992.

The first local champion was Rupert Marais, who won the first 100 yard national Championship in 1900. 

In 1901, the arrival of Australian soldier Ted Wearin began a period of dominance, as he won the races for 5 years, and continued to compete at the national championship for over two decades.  

In 1912, George 'Looper' Godfrey from Natal became the first swimmer to receive Springbok colours when he was selected to represent South Africa at the Helsinki Olympic Games.