Cape Town - Team South Africa’s Youth squad produced the country’s best ever collective performance at the Lifesaving World Championships in Adelaide, Australia.

South Africa finished fourth among 16 countries and remarkably every one of the 12-strong contingent won a medal, with Milan Erasmus and Connor Botha combining to smash the world record in the Pool Line Throw event.

Hosts Australia won the Youth competition, with New Zealand second, France third and Great Britain fifth.

South Africa’s Open squad finished sixth among 34 countries.

Again, hosts Australia edged rivals New Zealand for the overall title.

Overall team results:

1. Australia

2. New Zealand

3. France

4. Germany

5. Italy

6. South Africa

South Africa's Ryle de Morny was at his most brilliant to triumph in the Open men's flags. De Morny took gold to reaffirm his status as the country's most celebrated performer at the World Championships over the past decade.

The Notten brothers, Nicholas and Dominic, also enjoyed a strong competition.

Dominic got bronze in the board race, with Nicholas fourth.

Nicholas earlier in the competition also took gold in the surf ski and it was a golden weekend for South Africa’s youth males in the Pool, with Connor Botha and Milan Erasmus combining for their world record in the line throw.

Matthew Fenn and Ally Chislett also won silver in the youth surf ski and surf swim, respectively.

Connor Botha celebrated his 17th birthday with a third place in the board race and Daniel Jacobs also got a bronze in the surf ski.

Mandi Maritz, in the Open women's sprint, also won silver.

Team South Africa’s Kira Bester, Tamryn McKie, Alice Edward and Milan Erasmus won gold on the opening day in the junior mixed simulated emergency rescue competition (SERC).

General Tire is the sponsor of Lifesaving SA

Team South Africa squads:

Senior women

Sasha-Lee Corris Nordengen (captain), Keyta Purchase, Carmel Billson, Bianca von Bargen, Kristin Bellingham (all Marine), Mandi Maritz (Durban Surf)

Senior men Ryle de Morny (captain, False Bay), Josh Saunders (Marine), Martin Binedell (Marine), Johan Lourens (Tuks), Nick Notten, Dominic Notten (Fish Hoek)

Youth women

Sullyke van den Berg (Manguang), Alice Edward (captain), Ally Chislett (both Pirates), Tamryn McKie (Navy), Paige Horn (Umhlanga), Kira Bester (Beach)

Youth men

Milan Erasmus (Captain Durban Surf), Juan Pierre van Zyl (Harties Reflections), Connor Botha (Umhlanga), Matthew Fenn (East London), Daniel Jacobs (Fish Hook), Calvin Coetzee (Pirates)