Team South Africa’s swimming golden boy, Terence Parkin, smashed his fifth deaf world record in six days as the medals continued to flow the rainbow nation team’s way, at the Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday.
Durban-based Parkin set a 200m butterfly world record of two minutes and 5,23 seconds, to add to his world-record feats in the 50m breaststroke, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle and his participation in Team SA’s 4x200m medley-relay world best earlier in the week.
Parkin also set a Deaflympic record in the 400m freestyle on the opening day of the swimming event on Saturday.
Gauteng-based Greg Lessing had Team SA’s athletes and officials on the edge of their seats as he shared the silver medal in the 50m freestyle with John Kealy in 25,03, with timekeeping officials unable to separate the two swimmer’s performances at the final touch-pad wall.
Greek swimmer Georgios Dontas took gold in 24,76.
Team SA’s swimming contingent have contributed all 14 medals (11 gold and three silver) won by the national side at the Deaflympics, with Parkin’s tog bag filled with eight individual gold medals, and two more from Team SA’s relay-winning achievements.
Team SA chef de mission Tony Heyns congratulated the swimming contingent on holding South Africa’s sporting name up high against international competition.
Apart from swimming, Team SA is also represented in athletics, badminton and tennis at the international event. — Sapa