The history of competitive water sports in southern Africa
Harry Getz - SAASU Ambassador extraordinary |
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While South Africa was banned from competing in the Olympics in 1964 and 1968 - Harry Getz was on poolside - in the central role as Chief Judge of the swimming events. Despite the poor status of the swimmers, Harry was a FINA Bureau member, and welcomed at events they controlled. Harry was involved with university swimming and water polo for many years, being a founder of the SAU swimming Federation in 1929, and president from 1931 until his death in 1969.
1934 UCT Intervaristy team - with Harry Getz as manager |
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| Getz cerified as a life saver in 1925, and was in the WP Life Saving Team from 1926 -1940, captaining it for the last 10 years. During that time Province won the national championships 11 times. In 1934 he was elected to the executive of the Royal Lifesaving Society in South Africa, becoming president of the Society in 1949. |  |
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| As a water polo player Getz competed at Nationals from 1928 - 1934. He was mamager of numerous polo tours, including the 1959 Springbok Team tour to Europe. |  |
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| Aside from his duties with the Universities Swimming Federation, Harry was also an elected member of the South African Amateur Swimming Union, and the world swimming body - FINA. He was the Prsident of the SAASU when he died in 1969, and as a member of FINA he officiated at every Olympic Games from 1948 - 1968, as the Chief Judge at the Mexico Olympic Games swimming events. |  |
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