Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Keanan Hemmonsbey
Published on 2024-04-11 21:23:24
Pieter Coetzé continued his dominance at the South African National Swimming Championships, clinching his fourth gold medal in the men’s 100m backstroke with a time of 52.89 seconds. The 19-year-old from Pretoria had already secured gold in the 50m backstroke, 100m freestyle, and 200m backstroke events earlier in the week, meeting Olympic qualifying times in all but the 100m freestyle.
After his victory, Coetzé expressed his satisfaction but also hoped for his competitor Ruard van Renen to achieve the Olympic qualifying time as well. Van Renen finished second in 54.50 seconds, just shy of the 53.74 second benchmark, while Henju Duvenhage grabbed third place in 55.25 seconds.
Coetzé had surpassed the required time earlier in the day with a time of 53.05 in the heats, showing his consistency and determination in the pool. Despite the tight competition, Coetzé commended Van Renen for his performance, especially underwater.
As the week progresses, Coetzé is set to compete in the 50m freestyle and the 200m individual medley (IM), in addition to the relays. Despite some reservations about the 200 IM due to his weaker breaststroke, Coetzé remains determined to give his best effort in the race.
In the women’s 100m backstroke event, Milla Drakopoulos secured first place with a time of 1:01.7, expressing gratitude for her performance despite the challenging week of racing. With the relay event still ahead, Drakopoulos is hopeful of achieving her peak performance after a day of rest.
In other events, Minke Janse van Rensburg set a world record time of 38.46 in the 50m butterfly for swimmers with Down Syndrome. Duné Coetzee claimed the national title in the 400m freestyle with a personal best time of 4:09.43, just falling short of the Olympic qualifying time. Callan Lotter and Catherine van Rensburg secured second and third place, respectively.
Matthew Caldwell emerged as the national champion in the 400m freestyle with a time of 3:54.27, rounding out an eventful day at the championships. The evening session also included various 4x50m freestyle relay heats, adding to the excitement of the competition.
As the competition continues, Coetzé remains a standout performer, showcasing his talent and determination in the pool. The South African National Swimming Championships provide a platform for young swimmers to excel and strive for excellence in their respective events.
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