Olympian-turned-para coach Theo Verster eyes medals as R170m Pietermaritzburg AquaPark nears completion

With many municipal pools across South Africa falling into disrepair, finding a proper 50-metre facility to train and compete in has become a major hurdle for swimmers. But a new wave of hope is rising in Pietermaritzburg with Aqua Park, a state-of-the-art, R170 million aquatic centre set to transform the future of both Olympic and Paralympic swimming in the country. Leading the charge is Theo Verster, former Olympian and now head coach of South Africa’s Paralympic swimming team. The facility, featuring world-class Myrtha pool technology, promises not only elite training standards but also broad community access to nurture new talent and keep South Africa competitive on the global stage. Verster, who represented the country at the Beijing Olympics before transitioning to coaching, says para sport is one of the fastest growing sports in South Africa. He believes Aqua Park, scheduled to be completed in mid-December, will be a critical springboard to return the nation’s swimmers to their former medal-winning heights.