About Atlantis

Introduction

Atlantis is a Professional Swimming Club that focuses on competitive swimming in the Central Gauteng and Swim South Africa Leagues. We support Open Water Swimming, participating in the CGA Elite Series Open Water League, and also look forward to annual events like the Midmar Mile. Atlantis currently has more than 90 swimmers currently participating in CGA Galas and the CGA Elite Series Open Water League.

History

Atlantis was re-established in Lenasia in 1998. However this was not the beginnings of Atlantis. To get a true reflection of the history of our Club, we have to go way back into the late seventies when Atlantis Swimming Club was founded to provide coaching and competition opportunities for swimmers from the wider Lenasia area. The original team was led by Mr Joe Cassim and they were coached by Mr.Thambi Naiker.

Atlantis was at the forefront of the campaign to promote non-racial sport and under the banner of SACOS and later The NSC they followed the dictum that there can be ‘’No Normal sport an Abnormal Apartheid Society.‘’ While many continued to swim they were denied some of the simple opportunities that we take for granted today. Atlantis’ talented swimmers of yesteryear could not enter Ellis Park as this was reserved for whites only. More than this, state officials would even lock them out of their only available training facility at Grayville swimming Pool or even overdose the water with chemicals, because of the moral and political position that the club took.

In 1996 Dolphins Swim School was started with a handful of neighborhood kids. Soon the demand for quality teaching and coaching grew. The first swimmers from this pool were to re-establish Atlantis under the visionary leadership of Rashid Bhayat as chairman.

Achievements

Atlantis, as a club, has achieved phenomenal recognition from leading South African authorities in the swimming arena over the last few seasons. This recognition is achieved as a result of our swimmers’ achievements at Gala level. It is this dedication and hard work that has earned us the Central Gauteng Aquatic’s “Community Club of the year” award for two consecutive years, as well as the prestigious Swim South Africa award “Development Club of the year. “

Facilities

Greyville Swimming Pool has been the home of Atlantis swimming club since the 1970’s. Sadly due to inadequate and unequal budgeting, a lack of maintenance and upgrading of the facility, the pool was shut down in 2007.

03 October 2010 – SAVE THE POOL CAMPAIGN

Initiated by Atlantis swimming club and the Barcelona supporters club held a demonstration at Greyville pool was supported by members of the community and community leaders.

13 October 2010 - MEETING WITH THE MAYOR

Atlantis swimming club, Barcelona supporter’s club and community leaders made representation.

08 April 2011 - BREAKING NEWS

The mayor announces that the Grayville pool will be renovated and reopened soon

17 November 2012

Atlantis hosted a very successful CGA Level 0 Gala at Greyville Swimming pool, with 17 swimming clubs from across Johannesburg attending.