By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Anton Geyser/Team SA.
South Africa’s Pieter Coetze stormed to GOLD in the Men’s 50m Backstroke final with a blistering 24.18 seconds — a new Commonwealth Games record.
The 22-year-old star swimmer touched 0.30s ahead of the second-placed Oliver Morgan (24.48) of Team England, with compatriot Ruard van Renen (24.51) finishing third for a share of the podium.
“I am super happy with it (the win). It is a good way to start off,” Coetzé said.
Coetzé said he would take some confidence from his opening swim as he looks to use these Games as a dress rehearsal ahead of LA 2028.
“It is a pretty similar competition to the Olympics…it is a big meet and the more of these big things you can compete in, the better you are prepared for LA,” he said.
“So far it is looking good, it is good signs for in two years. Things can change, and hopefully things can change for the better and hopefully I can go faster than I am now but things are looking good.”
South Africa has five medals all from the swimmers, and there’s the strong likelihood of more coming on Sunday.
A gold came from Coetze, an affable giant outside of the pool, the silver was delivered by one of our female stars over the last decade, Erin Gallagher, while bronze was produced by the breakout swimmer of these Games, Ruard van Renen.
Nathan Hendricks took GOLD in the men’s S13 100m freestyle. The women’s 4x100m freestylers as well as the men’s 4x100m freestylers both took BRONZE. The latter marked a Commonwealth Games record 19 for Chad le Clos.
The impressive Aimee Canny is one of three Team SA swimmers to qualify for the women’s 100m breaststroke final on Sunday night, and she goes in as second favourite behind Scotland’s Angharad Evans, after her 1:06.04 semi-final win. Kaylene Corbett (1:07.31) will be looking to pounce, as will Rebecca Meder (1:07.53), another who is still learning the breaststroke art at this level.
Two others in finals action on Sunday will be Le Clos who qualified, against the odds, for the 100m butterfly, and how he’s managed to keep his focus with the mayhem of his medal still circling, is credit to the torchbearer of the sport over the past 15 years.
Boxing
Men’s welterweight, 65kg, round of 32: Simamkele Damesi lost to Ziggy Agathe (Mauritius) when the referee stopped the contest 8 sec into the second round due to a cut eye. Agathe had won a competitive first round 10-9 on all five judges scorecards.
Gymnastics
Men’s Artistic Individual Qualification, sub division 2: Daniel McLean placed 9th with a total of 63.600.
Lawn Bowls
Women’s Pairs, Section B, Round 4: Jackie Janse van Rensburg and Thabelo Muvhango stunned section table-toppers England with a 9-0, 3-4 and 1-0 (tiebreak) win. The Team SA pair bounced back against the favourites after losing their opening three matches.