Pieter Coetze continued to establish himself as the face of Team South Africa’s Commonwealth Games campaign on Sunday night, powering to a second gold medal in Glasgow as the national team prepared to broaden its medal assault with the start of the athletics programme on Monday.
Having begun the day with six medals, all from swimming, Team SA finished with nine after Coetze’s stunning victory in the men’s 200m backstroke was complemented by silver for Aimee Canny in the women’s 100m breaststroke and bronze for Olivia Nel in the women’s 100m backstroke.
Coetze once again rewrote the Commonwealth Games record books, clocking a superb 1:54.22 to eclipse the previous mark and claim victory by more than two seconds. England’s Oliver Morgan settled for silver in 1:56.44, with compatriot Luke Greenbank taking bronze.
The reigning world 100m backstroke champion was on world-record pace through the opening half of the race before fading slightly over the closing stages, though he still produced one of the outstanding performances of the Games.
“I think it was good. I definitely felt the pain on the second hundred after going out so fast,” Coetze said afterwards.
“We’re thinking long term with that strategy and I wish I could have held on a bit better, but I’m just happy to get the win. It’s about winning the race at the end of the day and I got that done today, so I can’t complain.”
The 22-year-old has now won two individual gold medals, adding the 200m title to Saturday’s triumph in the 50m backstroke, while he also helped South Africa secure bronze in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
The 100m backstroke, the event in which he is the reigning world champion, still awaits later this week.
Canny maintained South Africa’s rich tradition in the women’s breaststroke by touching in 1:06.19 for silver, while Nel produced the swim of her career to claim bronze in the women’s 100m backstroke in 1:00.09 behind Australia’s Iona Anderson and Canada’s Kylie Masse.
There were more encouraging performances ahead of Monday’s finals, with Michael Houlie qualifying fastest for the men’s 50m breaststroke final after posting 26.61 seconds in the semi-finals. Chris Smith also progressed as the fourth-fastest qualifier, while Erin Gallagher reached the women’s 100m butterfly final after qualifying fifth fastest.
Away from the pool, the Proteas netball team strengthened their medal credentials with an emphatic 96-42 victory over Tonga to remain unbeaten after two matches. Rolene Streutker scored 51 goals as South Africa set up pivotal Pool A clashes against England and Australia.
Monday marks the start of the athletics programme, providing Team SA with another avenue for medals after swimmers carried the campaign through the opening four days.
Prudence Sekgodiso, one of South Africa’s leading athletics medal hopes, begins her women’s 800m campaign in the evening session, while Bradley Nkoana and Cheswill Johnson contest the opening round of the men’s 100m.
Franco le Roux lines up in the 110m hurdles heats with the prospect of returning for the final later in the day, and para-athletes Liezel Gouws and Sheryl James begin their T38 100m campaigns.
Swimming is again expected to provide the best immediate medal opportunities. Houlie and Smith will both chase the podium in the men’s 50m breaststroke final, Gallagher returns for the women’s 100m butterfly final, and Caitlyn de Lange contests the women’s 100m freestyle final after qualifying eighth fastest.
Coetze will also be back in action less than 24 hours after his latest triumph, turning his attention to the men’s 100m freestyle heats alongside Guy Brooks, while former Commonwealth champion Lara van Niekerk launches her campaign in the women’s 50m breaststroke.
With nine medals already secured – two gold, two silver and five bronze – all from swimming, Team SA’s challenge now enters a fascinating new phase as athletics joins the hunt for podium places in Glasgow.
