By Gary Lemke.
Photo Credit: Anton Geyser/Team SA.
Team SA began day four of the 2026 Commonwealth Games programme with six medals, all won in the pool. It was another big night at Tollcross International Swimming Centre with another three medals coming their way to take the tally to nine.
Here’s a breakdown of how Team SA performed on Sunday in Glasgow.
Boxing
Men’s bantamweight, 55kg, round of 16: Masibulele Siqwela lost on points (4-0) to Mqengo Mwale (Zambia)
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. They then beat Malta 2-0 ( 7-0, 8-5) but are out of medals contention.
Men’s singles, Section B, Round 5: Wayne Rittmuller suffered another narrow tie-breaker loss, the second in succession. He lost to Shannon McIlroy (New Zealand) 8-5, 5-8 (0-1).
Swimming
Men’s 50m breaststroke, heats: Michael Houlie won his heat in 26.53 to set the standard heading into the evening’s semi-finals as the fastest qualifier. Chris Smith also qualified for the semi-finals, in 4th, after his heats swim where he placed 2nd in 27.17.
Men’s 50m breaststroke, semi-finals: Michael Houlie beat breaststroke legend Adam Peaty-Ramsay to win the second semi-final in 26.61 to go into the final as the fastest qualifier. Chris Smith was 2nd in the first semi-final in 27.01 to qualify 4th fastest for the final.
Men’s 200m backstroke, heats: After his 50m gold medal heroics last night, Pieter Coetze was back in the pool in the 200m and won his heat in a composed 1:58.48, which left him 2nd fastest qualifier heading into the evening final.
Men’s 100m butterfly, final: Chad le Clos, the most decorated Commonwealth Games male medallist ever, finished 5th in 51.49.
Bronze! Women’s 100m backstroke, final: Olivia Nel swam the race of her career to claim 3rd and take the bronze medal from lane 2 in 1:00.09.
Women’s 100m freestyle, heats: Aimee Canny scratched from the event to concentrate on her medal charge in the breaststroke this evening. Olivia Nel finished 3rd in the morning heat in 55.32 and qualified for the semi-finals as 11th fastest. Caitlyn de Lange also qualified for the semi-finals, in 14th position, after placing 6th in her heat in 55.74.
Women’s 100m freestyle, semi-finals: Caitlyn de Lange finished 4th in her semi-final in 55.03, which qualified her 8th for Monday night’s final. Olivia Nel withdrew earlier in the day.
Women’s 100m butterfly, heats: Erin Gallagher, a silver medallist in the 50m butterfly, won her heat in the 100m in 58.77, with Dune Coetzee 5th in 1:01.02. They were placed 6th and 13th, respectively, on the overall timesheets to comfortably qualify for the semi-finals.
Silver! Women’s 100m breaststroke, final: Aimee Canny continued Team SA’s trend of medalling in the women’s 100m breaststroke major championships by finishing 2nd in 1:06.19. Kaylene Corbett was 6th in 1:07.61 and Rebecca Meder 7th in 1:07.68.
Para Swimming
Men’s 100m backstroke, heats: Christian Sadie finished 7th in the heat in 1:15.32 and heads into the evening final seeded 7th.
Men’s 100m backstroke, final: Christian Sadie finished 7th in 1:15.82.
Wheelchair Basketball
Women’s 3×3, Pool A (2.25pm): Team SA (Aviwe Ngoni, Asive Gilifile, Michelle Moganedi, Ongezwa Hagu) lost to Australia 20-5. They went down in their opener to Canada 19-3 and next face pool leaders England in their final game.
Men’s 3×3, Pool B: Team SA (Zakhele Shelembe, Xola Yalezo, Shane Williams, Simanga Mbhele) recorded their first win in only their second match when they beat Wales 16-12.