Molepo making a splash at National Champs

RISING South African swimming sensation Malesela Molepo got his 2011 Telkom National Championships campaign off to a flying start by winning a 100m breaststroke heat in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

The 20-year-old Molepo, who is from Polokwane, posted a new personal best when he covered the distance in a time of 1min:09,19sec at the Newton Park Pool.

"I could have done better but I'm happy to have set a new personal best in this event. I had trained hard for these championships because they are very important," Molepo said.

The reigning African junior champion returns to the water today to compete in the 50m breaststroke and 400m individual medley heats.

"It will be a tough competition but the plan is to maintain the winning momentum. My immediate target here is to reach the semifinals in all my competitions. Once I'm in the semifinals, anything can happen. I want to use the championships to return to my winning ways and hope to qualify for one of the major international competitions.

"I will also be happy to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics just to gain some international experience. The one I'm targeting in terms of doing well will be in Brazil in 2016," he said.