The Sunday Mail
Fatima Bulla – Senior Sports Reporter
RISING star Chad Idensohn is expected to form the backbone of the Zimbabwe swimming team that is set to do duty at the African Union Sports Council Region V Games.
The Games run from 4-15 December in Bulawayo.
The 18-year-old South African-based swimmer, who completes his three year sports scholarship programme at St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg this year, has on several occasions proven his worth at regional and international events.
His camp believes it is time he shows it on home soil.
Idensohn was the highest ranking African in the 50m and 100m freestyle categories at the Youth Olympics hosted by China this year.
He also reached the semi-finals in the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly categories at the same Games.
In April, the former St John’s College student won silver at the 50m freestyle tournament in South Africa before collecting a bronze in the 4x50m relay at the Under-19 African Youth Games in Botswana.
The starlet’s father Harold, is confident of another medal at the AUSC Region V Games.
“Chad is doing well and he has been talking about the games in December a lot. He obviously is proud to be representing Zimbabwe.
“Hopefully, he will be in great shape as he will be coming from the World Short Course Championships in Doha.
“We are really grateful of the support that has come from the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and Zimbabwe Aquatic Union led by president Mary Kloppers,” the proud father said.
As captain of the senior swimming team at St Charles College, Idensohn has made it into the Kwazulu Natal senior squad twice in a row, swimming in the same pool with South Africa’s Olympic champion Chad Le Clos.
A beneficiary of the Olympic Solidarity Fund ahead of the Rio 2016 Games, Idensohn’s next stop is the University of Arizona where he been awarded an National Collegiate Athletic Association Division One scholarship.
Ranked the number one Under-18 male swimmer in South Africa in the 50 freestyle and 50 butterfly, Idensohn is highly regarded by the Zimbabwe Aquatic Union.
“Chad is always humble in his achievements and a pleasure to deal with. He is very proud to be able to fly the Zimbabwean flag high and represents both swimming and the country in an outstanding manner,” said Kloppers.
