If you haven’t heard the name Zane Waddell before, you’re not alone.

Time for that to change, though, because the 21-year-old South African stormed to victory in yesterday’s 50m backstroke swimming World Champs final.

The South African swimming team can be chuffed with their efforts – one gold, one silver and two bronze medals – and Waddell was clearly very happy after he secured that gold.

Chad le Clos was responsible for both those bronzes, and Tatjana Schoenmaker the silver, but let’s focus on Zane. From IOL below:

With the word “Ubuntu” proudly displayed on his breast, Waddell beat Russian world record holder Kliment Kolesnikov to the wall for his maiden world title at the biennial event.

Waddell hit the wall in a winning time of 24.43 seconds out touching Russians Evgeny Rylov ( 24.49) in second place and Kolesnikov (24.51) in third.

How about that roar when he realises he’s won gold?

As requested 😉pic.twitter.com/68Q6il3LEe

— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) July 28, 2019

Magic.

If you’re a fan of snooping on people’s Instagram accounts, here’s Zane’s.

Let’s also give Schoenmaker the credit she deserves:

Schoenmaker became the first South African woman to win a medal at the World Long-Course Championships when she won the 200m breaststroke silver medal. Her race also marked the first time in nearly two decades that two South African women featured in the same final at a major global swimming event with training partner Kaylen Corbett finishing eighth.

Team SA’s four medals is their fourth-best performance ever, and saw them finishing 11th on the medal table.

Onwards and upwards, you beauties.

[source:iol]