SA’s next generation of Olympic swimming champions feature in the documentary, 'Outside Lane'
|Published
With the Olympic Games Paris 2024 done and dusted, M-Net’s new local documentary puts South Africa’s next generation of superstar swimmers in the spotlight
“Outside Lane” follows four South African swimmers in their quest for success that started decades before they boarded the plane to Paris for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad,“ a statement on the doccie read.
They are Kaylene Corbett, Pieter Coetzé, Erin Gallagher and Matthew Sates. This group are not yet household names but they are hoping to follow in the illustrious footsteps of Olympic swimming icons like Penny Heyns, Ryk Neethling, Natalie du Toit, Roland Schoeman, Chad le Clos and Tatjana Smith.
“’Outside Lane’ follows this next generation of champions and their coach as they train for Paris 2024, bidding to claim their place alongside these sporting greats,” the statement added.
The four-part series is produced by Idea Candy, who brought viewers “School Ties”, “Steinheist” and “Devilsdorp”.
It is set to provide an intimate glimpse into what it takes to achieve Olympic success. This includes athletes undergoing intensive training, the personal sacrifices they have made, and the mindset required to compete at the highest sporting level.
The doccie also features Rocco Meiring, the head coach of Tuks Swimming at the University of Pretoria, who has trained the new generation of local swimming talents.
He has presided over what has come to be known as South Africa’s “Pool of Gold” and is one of the world's most strategic coaches, with decades of experience and a no-nonsense approach to craft a squad with the potential to shine at the Olympics, and produce future superstar athletes.
The show is directed by Richard Finn Gregory, who explained that the outside lane of the pool was the most difficult position to compete from compared to the centre lanes.
“Swimmers need to work extra hard to overcome this disadvantage, which is a metaphor for the South African swimmers who have to go beyond to become world beaters.”
Gregory added that 22% of all the country’s Olympic medals since the nation was readmitted to the major international multi-sport event in 1992, were won in the pool with swimmers having taken 16 of 37 medals.
“And we’re working with a fraction of the resources of teams like the USA,” he noted.
“It shouldn’t be a fair fight but the indomitable South African spirit, incredible natural talent and the world-class expertise of Coach Rocco all combine to deliver swimmers who are punching well above their weight.”
∎ “Outside Lane” premières on M-Net (Channel 101) on Thursday, August 15, at 8pm. It will also be available on DStv Catch Up and DStv Stream.