Two Ugu swimmers, Alex-Zandré Labuschange and Ella Bunge, have been selected for the KZN High Performance Team.
It’s an elite group of 35 female swimmers in the province, so it’s a wonderful honour and achievement.
Born into a swimming family, Alex-Zandré’s talent was soon evident. Now 16, she started swimming at the age of five and currently trains with the Margate Swimming Club under the coaching of her father, Gerhard Labuschagne, and older sister, Samantha – who also enjoyed a stellar career, earning the nickname Super Sam.
Alex-Zandré has achieved many accolades over the years. Most recently, she competed in the 2024 SA School Championships, earning medals and achieving personal best times.
A week before this event, she represented KZN at the SA Olympic trials, and then she also competed in the SA Junior Nationals, where she placed in the top 10 in most events, reached the finals, and secured a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle.
During the 2024 school swimming season, Alex-Zandré broke all records at the Lower South Coast Championship and the Southcity Interhouse Gala, marking the third consecutive year she holds all records for Grades 8, 9, and 10. She aspires to represent South Africa one day, and her selection to the high-performance team will bring her one step closer.
Ella (13) has dedicated the last seven years to honing her skills with Blue Ocean Aquatics under the expert guidance of coach Mandy Koegelenberg.
She has represented KZN in the SA School Trials in both 2023 and 2024.
In Durban’s Kings Park event in 2023, Ella clinched four bronze medals, and in 2024, competing in Gqeberha, she achieved personal best times in all her events.
Ella has also won both the Junior and Senior Victrix awards in swimming at Izotsha and breaking numerous records.
A standout moment in her career was taking part in the 2022 KZN Premier Champs, where she met Tatijana Smith (formerly known as Schoenmaker) and other top South African swimmers.
Gerhard Labuschagne, who sits on the KZN High-Performance Committee, expressed immense pride in having two swimmers from the Ugu district selected. He is confident that Alex-Zandré and Ella will represent their district with distinction.
“These two young athletes are shining examples of dedication and hard work, and their futures in swimming look incredibly promising,” he said.
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