By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
ZAMBIAN swimmers wrapped up their participation at the 2015 International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Aquatics Championships with an impressive performance by female sensation, Jade Howard.
Despite missing out on the medals podium, the four swimmers, Ralph Goveia, Alexandros Axiotis, Howard and Tilka Paljk produced mouthwatering displays that saw them break and set new national records as well as Personal Bests (PBs) at the championships that conclude today in Kazan, Russia.
Howard, 58th in freestyle on the world rankings, was Zambia’s last hope after her compatriots were booted out of the competition but she also followed suit.
She set a national record after clocking 26.99 seconds in the 50 metres freestyle that was also followed by a fantastic 58.74 seconds in 100 metres freestyle even though she could not advance to the next round.
There was drama in the mixed zone as breaststroker Tilka Paljk was carried through on a stretcher, suffering from hyperventilation, having finished 46th fastest in the 20-metre heats, but the 18-year-old later recovered.
Earlier, Goveia rose up the world ladder from 67th to 46th after an impressive swim in a stunning time of 25.16 seconds in 50m butterfly and broke the national record in the 17 years and over-age group.
Axiotis broke his personal best in 50m breaststroke in a time of 30.24 seconds while Paljk also set beat her personal best as she produced an incredible time of 1.17.13 minutes in the 100-metre breast stroke.