Familiar Faces – Swimming World Names African Swimmers of the Year

PHOENIX, Arizona, November 28. LESS than a week away from naming the World Swimmers of the Year, Swimming World announces the winners of the African regional winners. Some familiar faces show up again as the winners of the 2007 African Swimmers of the Year awards. Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry and South Africa's Roland Schoeman took home the expert panel vote as winners of the Female and Male awards, respectively.

Since Swimming World first began recognizing African Swimmers of the Year in 2004, the magazine's readers have become very familiar with Coventry and Schoeman. Coventry has won the award three times, while Schoeman is a perfect four-for-four.

Here are some excerpts from the features put together on Coventry and Schoeman:

KIRSTY COVENTRY, Zimbabwe
Female African Swimmer of the Year

A year after seeing her two-year run at the top of the African region come to an end at the hands of South Africa's Suzaan Van Biljon, Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry put together an incredible 2007 season that resulted in her third title in the last four years as Swimming World Magazine's Female African Swimmer of the Year.

"I feel very honored to be named African Swimmer of the Year," Coventry said after learning of the award. "Raising my country's flag high and making people at home proud is always very special to me. I love swimming because it has taken me to amazing places that I would not have been able to see. Swimming has also given me memories and friends that will last a lifetime."

THE TOP FIVE
1. KIRSTY COVENTRY, Zimbabwe
2. Suzaan Van Biljon, South Africa
3. Wendy Trott, South Africa
4. Amanda Loots, South Africa
5. Keri Shaw, South Africa

ROLAND SCHOEMAN, South Africa
Male African Swimmer of the Year

Swimming World Magazine might as well rename its African Male Swimmer of the Year award the Roland Schoeman African Swimmer of the Year award. Schoeman has won the award every year since its inception in 2004—that's four straight years!

At one point in the voting process, however, Schoeman's streak looked to be in jeopardy. With Ous Mellouli putting together a solid campaign at the World Championships in Melbourne, the Tunisian seemed to be the early frontrunner. However, with Mellouli's retroactive ban and adjustments due to a doping violation around the time of the 2006 U.S. Open, Schoeman became the voters' favorite.

THE TOP FIVE
1. ROLAND SCHOEMAN, South Africa
2. Gerhard Zandberg, South Africa
3. Cameron van der Burgh, South Africa
4. Jason Dunford, Kenya
5. Lyndon Ferns, South Africa

African Female Swimmer of the Year

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