From first width to national qualifying times
Vikings Race Club trains six squads out of one pool in Waverley, Pretoria — four-year-olds learning to float, teenagers chasing SANJ times, and adults who just want to swim properly again.
Training squads, from learn-to-swim through to elite
Olympic Games swum by head coach Gerhard Zandberg
World champion, 50 m backstroke — FINA World Championships
Average from six Google reviews
A small club that takes swimming seriously
There is one coach on deck, and he knows every swimmer’s stroke by name.
Vikings has spent years building swimmers rather than filling lanes. Squads are kept small enough that feedback happens in the session, not in a report afterwards. Beginners share a pool with national qualifiers, which is the fastest way to learn what the sport actually asks of you.
Training is structured around the Northern Tigers and SANJ calendars, so families know months in advance what the season looks like. And whichever group a swimmer sits in, the standard on deck is the same: turn up, work, look after the person in the next lane.
How a Vikings swimmer moves up
Swimmers progress on ability, not age. Gerhard moves a swimmer up when their stroke and their times say they are ready for the next set of demands.
Learn and develop
Water safety, then all four strokes and the endurance to hold a set together.
Start racing
NTS competitions, with starts, turns and race strategy added to training.
Train to compete
Level 3 times, higher volume, dryland, and a season built around peak meets.
Race nationally
SANJ qualifiers training twice a day with individual stroke and race analysis.
Adults join Vikings Masters at any point, whatever their background.
Coached by Gerhard Zandberg
Three Olympic Games, a world title, and now a set of lane ropes in Waverley.
Gerhard swam for South Africa at the highest level for over a decade, and won gold in the 50 m backstroke at the 2007 FINA World Championships. What he brings to the pool deck is the technical detail of an international sprinter combined with a coaching style that is direct, demanding and genuinely encouraging.
What families say
Five stars from six reviewers on Google.
World-class coach and wonderful people in general! Highly recommended.
The competitive swimming program at Vikings has helped me achieve my personal best. I’m grateful for the guidance and encouragement from the coaching staff.
Come and swim a session before you commit
Bring a costume, cap and goggles. Gerhard will watch a few lengths and tell you honestly which group fits.