PARIS 2024 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
of South Africa Pieter Coetzee safely advanced to the semi-finals of the 100 back this morning, building on his performance from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where he finished 24th in 54.05. After a strong swim of 52.90 in the heats, Coetze was the second fastest qualifier and occupied lane 4 in the first semi-final.
Coezte was 0.09 faster than he was this morning, finishing second in 25.40 behind the early leader Miroslav Knedla. Coezte, world record holder Thomas Cecconand French star Yohann Ndoye-Brouard would pass Knedla, with Ceccon climbing the wall in 52.58. Coetze and Ndoye-Brouard would tie for 2nd in 52.63. Time has not only erased Coetze’s personal bests, but is also rewriting South Africa’s and Africa’s records.
| 2024 Olympic Games Semi-Finals (New African Record) | 2024 Olympic Qualifiers | SA Championship 2023 (Former African record) | |
| 1st 50 | 25.40 | 25.49 | 25.58 |
| 2nd 50 | 27.23 | 27.41 | 27.20 |
| year | 52,63 | 52.90 | 52.78 |
Looking at the differences between the new record and the previous one, one can see that Coetze, 20, took the race out faster, by 0.18 in the first 50, and sacrificed only 0.03 in the back half. Looking at the bigger picture, the time seems to make the young South African the 24th fastest performer of all time.
In 2022, Coetze announced that he intended to train and attend the University of California, but a year later, he reversed course and chose to remain in South Africa and turn professional. He has since won bronze at the 2024 World Championships in the 200 backstroke and is primed to win an Olympic medal tomorrow.
For South Africa, Coetzee represents the first man not to be named Chad le Clos to reach an Olympic final from the Rio Games in 2016 when Cameron van der Burgh won silver in the 100 breaststroke and Brad Tandy placed 6th in the 50 free.
Other Continental News
- Fellow South African Tatiana Smith qualified first for tomorrow’s 100 breaststroke finals thanks to a 1:05.00. The newly married swimmer finished second at the Tokyo Olympics in 1:05.22 behind American Lydia Jacoby.
- South African and UVA swimmer Amy Kani advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 200 free, placing 12th in 1:57.34. In 2021, Kani was a relay-only swimmer, swimming in the 4×200 freestyle and 4×100 medley relays.
Continental/National Records
- Benin
- 100 Back: Alexis Kpadi – 57.61
- South Africa
