Matthew Sates and Lara van Niekerk rounded off the year in spectacular fashion at the World Swimming Championships (25m) which were held in Melbourne, Australia from the 13-18 December.

Sates swam the second fastest time in history to claim gold in the 200IM in a time of 1.50.15, also breaking the South African and African record in the process. He followed that up with bronze in the 400m IM, also breaking the South African and African record in a time of 3.59,21.

van Niekerk, after having foot surgery just 3 months ago, broke her own South African and African record 3 times on her way to winning silver in the 50m Breaststroke.