SA swimmers Coetzé & Corbett book spots in finals at World Aquatics Championships

JOHANNESBURG – South African swimmers Pieter Coetzé and Kaylene Corbett progressed to the finals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Thursday.

Coetzé will be looking to add to his 100m backstroke gold when he lines up for the final of the 200m event.

The swimmer scraped through to the semifinals earlier in the day as the 16th fastest qualifier in 1:57.11.

The 21-year-old put any doubts to rest in his evening swim when he stormed to victory in the first semifinal, taking out the first 50m under world record pace and holding on to finish in 1:54.22 and in turn bettering his African record.

"I definitely paced myself wrong this morning and took a big risk – barely made it in, 16th place. I think that gave me a lot of motivation, and I felt very honoured and blessed to actually make it through to even be here tonight. So I think that put me in a very good state of mind to go out there and put together a very good race tonight," said Coetzé.

It’s also a time that would have won him the gold medal at last year’s Olympic Games in Paris and sees him through to Friday’s final as one of the favourites.