Pieter Coetzé wrapped up an exceptional World Aquatics Championships by getting his hands on another silver medal.
The 21-year-old added the 50m backstroke silver to his 100m gold and 200m silver, so becoming the only man to reach the podium for all three backstroke events at these championships.
Coetzé lined up for the 50m final as the third fastest qualifier behind two Russians – world record-holder Kliment Kolesnikov and Pavel Samusenko – after swimming an African record in Saturday’s semifinal. He went even quicker in the final, powering across the pool in another continental record time of 24.17 seconds to share the silver with Samusenko, who touched in exactly the same time, with Kolesnikov taking the gold in a championship record of 23.68 seconds.
“I don’t think I’ve ever tied in a final at this level, so it’s pretty cool,” said a thrilled Coetzé afterwards.
“I’m very happy. I don’t really train for the 50, I train for the 200, so to be able to go down so far and win a medal in the 50 is amazing,” he added.
“Kliment went very fast. That’s an extremely fast time, so it was an honour to be in that race and hopefully I can push myself and also get below 24 seconds.”
With his performances in Singapore, Coetzé equalled Roland Schoeman’s record of claiming three medals at a single long-course world championships – the former Olympic champion having achieved the feat in 2005. What is also impressive is that he achieved big personal bests and continental records in each of his events.
“It’s amazing. It’s something I always dreamed of,” said the Pretoria star. “I can see myself making strides towards being the swimmer I always knew I could be, so it’s nice to see that I’m improving and getting there slowly. But I’ve always believed it, and a part of me had always known, so now to see it in front of me is amazing. I’m very proud and blessed.”
Earlier in the day, the South African quartet of Olivia Nel, Rebecca Meder, Erin Gallagher and Aimee Canny blazed to a new national and continental record of 3:59.47 in the 4x100m medley relay, but just missed out on the final by one place.
“It was so good. A little before the relay, we were all just taking a little peek at the African record because we realised the group of girls we were sitting with, and we totally knew it was possible, so the fact that we got that was so awesome,” said Nel afterwards, with the group also expressing their goal of a podium place at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Meanwhile, Coetzé’s silver on the final day of the championships meant South Africa finished in 11th place on the swimming medal table in Singapore, which was topped by the United States.
Photo credits: Pieter Coetzé - World Aquatics