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Curro AquaElite Gala. 🌊 Rising Stars Make Waves at the 2025 Curro AquaElite Gala.
Cheers echoed off the pool walls as South Africa’s brightest young swimmers plunged into three days of electrifying competition at the 2025 Curro AquaElite Gala, held from 3 to 5 October at Curro Hillcrest’s Olympic-size heated pool. Hosted in partnership with Aquazone Swimming Club, the event united elite swimmers from across the country in a celebration of talent, teamwork, and dreams of Olympic glory.
Now in its third year, the Curro AquaElite Gala has cemented its place as a flagship event on the national schools’ swimming calendar. It offers young athletes a professional platform to compete and earn valuable World Aquatics points—an essential metric for building high-performance teams capable of competing internationally.
🏊♂️ A Showcase of National Talent
Over the course of three action-packed days, primary and high schools from KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Western Cape, and Gauteng sent their top swimmers to compete across three age categories:
- 13 and under
- 14–15 years
- 16–19 years
A total of 368 swimmers participated, with six Curro schools contributing nearly 40% of the field—Curro Hillcrest, Curro Hazeldean, Curro Durbanville, HeronBridge College, Curro Thatchfield, and Curro Bloemfontein—highlighting the strength of Curro’s swimming pipeline.
🎉 Atmosphere of Excellence
As the final day drew to a close, the pool deck buzzed with excitement and pride. From nail-biting finishes to record-breaking performances, the gala showcased not only individual brilliance but also the growing strength of school-level swimming in South Africa.
“The standard of swimming at all levels is something to be proud of, and somewhere among all the competitors could be a future Olympic champion,” said Cindy van der Merwe, Curro Sports Portfolio Manager. “These swimmers rise to the occasion and are not daunted by the big stage. The support, camaraderie, and friendships make this event truly special.”
🏆 Standout Performances
Once the water had settled, two swimmers emerged as the top performers of the gala:
- Tiaan Geldenhuys (Curro Hazeldean) – Best Male Performance
- Cassidy Burgess (Herschel Girls School) – Best Female Performance
These awards were based on World Aquatics points, recognizing exceptional skill and determination.
🥇 Individual Awards
| Age Group | Award | Name | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| U13 | Top Female Points Scorer | Megan Jacobs | St. Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls |
| U13 | Top Male Points Scorer | Michael Bright | Curro Durbanville |
| U15 | Top Female Points Scorers | Taylor Foster<br>Emma Oosthuizen<br>Hannah-Grace Havinga | Curro Hillcrest<br>Hoërskool Waterkloof<br>Cornwall Hill College |
| U15 | Top Male Points Scorers | Ernst Bezuidenhout<br>Tiaan Geldenhuys | Curro Durbanville<br>Curro Hazeldean |
| U19 | Top Female Points Scorer | Cassidy Burgess | Herschel Girls School |
| U19 | Top Male Points Scorer | Jake Borrageiro | Curro Hillcrest |
🏅 Team Awards
| Category | Primary School | High School |
|---|---|---|
| Best Girls’ Team | Primêre Meisieskool Oranje | Hoër Meisieskool Oranje |
| Best Boys’ Team | Glenwood Preparatory School | Grey College |
| Best Co-Ed Team | Glenwood Preparatory School | Northcliff High School |
| Team Spirit Award | — | Hoërskool Sentraal |
⚡ Skins Event Results
Male Skins Finalists 1st – Philip le Roux (Hoërskool Sentraal) 2nd – Cameron Harvey (Curro Hillcrest) 3rd – JC Coetzer (Grey College) 4th – Juan Calitz (Grey College)
Female Skins Finalists 1st – Annebel Stewart (Curro Hillcrest) 2nd – Gizelle Maritz (HeronBridge College) 3rd – Cassidy Burgess (Herschel Girls School) 4th – Leah Markgraaff (HeronBridge College)
Looking Ahead
“With this year’s event setting new standards of excellence, the Curro AquaElite Gala continues to grow as a nurturing ground for South Africa’s next generation of swimming champions,” concluded Van der Merwe.
Read more fantastic school news here: https://schoolsthatrock.co.za/ https://curro.co.za
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