Pieter Coetzé came within 0.25 of a second of the world record in blazing his way to the gold medal in the 100m backstroke to win South Africa’s first medal of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
The 21-year-old was third fastest in the semi-finals but out-duelled Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon and France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard in the second half of the final to reach the wall in an African record time of 51.85 seconds, just 0.25 of a second off Ceccon’s world record.
The Italian was second in 51.90 seconds, with Ndoye-Brouard third in 51.92 and 200m backstroke Olympic champion Hubert Kos relegated to fourth in 52.20.
“I always thought it would happen eventually,” admitted Coetzé afterwards during his poolside TV interview. “In my mind, it was just a matter of time, but to do it this year is amazing.”
Speaking again a little later, he added: “It was awesome. The competition was very deep here, so there were eight guys who could have won it.
“The [World] University Games prepped me really well. The guys went fast there as well. But I’m over the moon. It was anyone’s game. I knew that going into it and to get away with the win is awesome.”
As for the time he swam, the TUKS psychology student added: “Every time I break [the African record], I’m really happy with it. I can’t explain, but it was more about the win tonight than the time, so if I won with a second slower time, it would still be as good. I think in a final, you don’t really think about the time at all.”
With one medal already in the bag, Coetzé still has the 50m and 200m backstroke events to come.
Earlier in the evening, his teammate Chris Smith booked his ticket to the final of the 50m breaststroke. The 19-year-old won his morning heat in 26.82 seconds and then went even better in the evening semifinals, finishing second in a personal best time of 26.77 seconds, behind Koen de Groot (26.71). That saw him through to Wednesday’s final as the joint fifth fastest.
The other South African in action in the evening session was Aimee Canny, who had finished third in her morning heat in 1:57.53 to qualify eighth fastest for the 200m freestyle semi-finals. She went slightly slower in the semifinal, finishing in sixth place in 1:57.72, so missing out on the final in 12th overall.
Apart from Smith taking to the blocks for the 50m breaststroke final, Wednesday’s programme will see Olivia Nel, fresh from her four medals at the World University Games, lining up in the heats of the 50m backstroke while Matt Sates will take on the 200m individual medley and the South Africans will be in action in the mixed 4x100m medley relay.
Photo: World Aquatics
