Confident Coetzé ready to represent SA at World Swimming Champs in Singapore
Coetzé was the only South African to medal at the last World Championships in 2024, claiming bronze in the 200m backstroke and faces a tough task to repeat that feat in a competitive field.
Olympic finalist Pieter Coetzé will be competing at the SA Swimming Championships. Picture:SA Sports Images/Anton Geyser.
JOHANNESBURG – Team South Africa has sent 14 swimmers to the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, which start on Sunday.
Among them is Pieter Coetzé, who travelled directly to Singapore from Germany, where he was representing the country at the World University Games.
Coetzé was the only South African to medal at the last World Championships in 2024, claiming bronze in the 200m backstroke and faces a tough task to repeat that feat in a competitive field.
“There have been some very fast times from all over and the field is very bunched up, but I think that’s just going to bring the best out of all of us, and we’ll push each other so I’m pretty excited to race all these guys who have put up fast times this year,” he said.
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Pieter Coetzé leads the pack as he qualifies for 4 World Aquatics Championships events
The TUKS psychology student left the World University Games with three medals after taking gold in the 50 and 100m backstroke and silver in the 100m freestyle.
Coetzé’s African record time of 51.99 seconds to take the 100m backstroke gold is the fastest in the world this year.
“I was very happy with how Berlin went and with my performances there,” he said after touching down in Singapore.
“It wasn’t really expected at all. I didn’t really know what to expect to be fair, but to swim a 51 in the 100 backstroke was definitely unexpected and definitely boosted my confidence,” said Coetzé.
The swimmer dipped under 48 seconds for the first time in the 100m freestyle and under 52 seconds in the 100m backstroke.
“It’s also good to see the freestyle coming along. To go sub-48 was pretty cool and a big PB as well. So it was all a good sign for Singapore. It is quite close after Berlin, but I think things are looking good.”
The swimming programme at the World Aquatics Championships runs from 27 July to 3 August.
SA SWIMMING TEAM:
Matthew Caldwell, Aimee Canny, Pieter Coetzé, Kaylene Corbett, Caitlin de Lange, Erin Gallagher, Michael Houlie, Rebecca Meder, Georgia Nel, Olivia Nel, Hannah Robertson, Matthew Sates, Chris Smith, Catherine van Rensburg