SA swimmers shine in Singapore: Pieter Coetzé claims silver with African record, Kaylene Corbett wins bronze

JOHANNESBURG - South African swimmers made waves at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Thursday, with Pieter Coetzé and Kaylene Corbett both securing podium finishes.

Pieter Coetzé won a silver medal in the 200m backstroke and broke an African record in a time of 1:53.36 in 1 min 53.36 sec behind Olympic champion Hubert Kos of Hungary - adding to his gold medal in the 100m event.

Both Kόs and Coetzé’s times beat Kόs’s gold medal-winning time from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“Coming into this, I didn’t really expect to go that fast. This has exceeded all my expectations, and it’s just a big honour to be in a race like that. I kind of expected to be out very fast. I could feel that I was moving at a high pace, and I knew that I would feel it in the end, and I did. But it’s a big PB for me so I’m super-happy with the time,” said Coetzé.

Meanwhile, Corbett grabbed her first World championship medal, a bronze in the Women’s 200m Breast in 2:23.52.

Olympic champion Kate Douglass of the USA took the gold in a championship record time of 2:18.50, the second fastest time in history, with world record-holder Evgeniia Chikunova second in 2:19.96.

“It’s been a really hectic year, and it just feels like it really came together when it should, so I’m just really, really stoked about it. I’m very, very happy. I just think that I gave everything I had, and I’m just really proud of myself with that performance,” said an emotional Corbett after claiming her first world championship medal.

And Erin Gallagher booked her spot in the 50m Fly finals, which are on Saturday.

Pieter Coetzé wins SA's first gold medal at World Swimming Championships

Pieter Coetzé leads the pack as he qualifies for 4 World Aquatics Championships events