A medal and African and South African records prove that Tuks’s swimmers performed well during the World Swimming Championships in Doha.
tCoetzé won bronze in the 200m-backstroke. The way he swam that last 50 metres is what champions are made from. To come back from eighth to third took some genuine guts. Equally as impressive is competing in all three backstroke finals. It was the first time the 19-year-old competed at a senior world championship.
Last year in Japan, Tatjana Schoenmaker (Tuks) won South Africa’s only two medals (gold in the 200 m breaststroke and silver in the 100 m breaststroke).
Last night, Coetzé finished 4th in the 50m-backstroke final. He missed out by 0.15s on winning the bronze. The Australian Isaac Cooper claimed the gold in 24.13s, American Hunter Armstrong took the silver in 24.33 and Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk the bronze in 24.44. Coetzé swam 24.59s.
Coetzé finished fifth in the 100m backstroke final. Unfortunately, he hit the ropes a few times. It is interesting to note that the times he swam in the heats and the semifinal would have seen him clinching a bronze medal.
Asked what he’s learned from these championships, Coetzé added: “Mostly on the mental side, I’ve learned what state I should be in, what expectations I should and shouldn’t have. I have picked up on a few things in my technique that I also got to work on.
“This ‘worlds’ was always going to be a preparation competition for the Paris Olympics. It’s very early in the year. Generally, at this time of year, I’m not racing, just training. So, it was something new for my body that I wasn’t used to. The whole SA team is not used to that, so we’re all very excited for the next few months, and hopefully, we can peak at the right time.”
Tuks’s Erin Gallagher came within a fingertip of winning a bronze medal in the 50m-butterfly on Saturday. She finished fourth in 25.69s. Her continental rival, Farida Ousman (Egypt), claimed bronze in 25.67s. Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström took the gold in 24.63s and France’s Melanie Henique the silver in 25.44s.
Gallagher set an African record in the 100m-butterfly swimming 57.69s. She was seventh in the final.
Tayla Jonker set a new South African record in the 50m backstroke. The
The 19-year-old finished fourth in her heat in a time of 28.37 seconds. Doing so, she bettered the mark set by Olivia Nel during last year’s national championships. She also booked a place in her first-ever World Championships semifinal. Jonker was 8th in the semifinals.
Also making her first appearance in a World Championships semifinal was Hannah Pearse. The 20-year-old finished fifth in her 200m-backstroke heat. In the semifinal, she swam 2:13.29 to finish 8th.
Clayton Jimmie produced a personal best performance to win his 50m freestyle heat in 22.33 seconds. It was not quick enough to see him through to the semifinal.