42-year-old Schoeman turns back clock with World Swimming Champs spots up for grabs in Gqeberha

South Africa's swimming elite collide for this week's SA National Championships in Gqeberha as they vie for qualification spots for this year's World Swimming Championships.

42-year-old Roland Schoeman is on the start lists as he competes at the national event for the first time since 2016.

The three-time Olympic medallist has decided to give it another go in the 50 and 100m freestyle and the 50m butterfly.

Eleven years Schoeman's junior is Chad le Clos, who has been enjoying a recent resurgence of his own - claiming double gold at last year's World Short Course Championships in Melbourne.

Turning 31 on the opening day of the competition, Le Clos is planning on swimming the 100 and 200m butterfly as well as the 100m freestyle, with an eye on qualifying for the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

"I'm feeling good, really confident, definitely different to the last two years that I've been swimming," said Le Clos, who arrived in the country from his base in Germany last week.

"Hopefully, we have some good results. I'm just happy to be here in a good head space, good body - and we'll see how we go."

Le Clos is looking forward to the 12-16 April swimming meet as he looks to compete in the 100m freestyle alongside veteran Schoeman.

"The 100 free is a new event which I've been working quite hard on recently but understanding that it's still a process," said Le Clos.

"I think it's going to be quite exciting. It's great that Roland's back, it's really amazing that he's still swimming at his age and I think he's going to be good.

Recently named Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year at the SA Sports Awards, Lara van Niekerk and Pieter Coetzé, will also be competing in Gqeberha this week.

Van Niekerk made a splash in 2022 by