South Africa’s medal haul in the pool continued to grow on Wednesday night as Pieter Coetze produced another unforgettable performance, capping off a flawless Commonwealth Games campaign with a third gold medal and yet another record, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The 21-year-old swimming sensation dominated the men’s 100m backstroke final in Glasgow, touching the wall in 51.77 seconds to set both a new Commonwealth Games and African record. The victory completed a remarkable clean sweep of all three backstroke events, cementing Coetze’s place as one of the standout stars of the Games.
Having already claimed gold in the 50m and 200m backstroke, the South African added the 100m title to complete an extraordinary trio of victories.
It was another memorable race for Team South Africa, with Ruard van Renen also delivering an impressive performance to secure the bronze medal in 53.31 seconds.
England’s Oliver Morgan finished between the two South Africans to take silver, but the night undoubtedly belonged to Coetze, whose dominance across the backstroke disciplines has been one of the defining stories of the swimming competition.
South Africa celebrated another top step of the podium shortly afterwards when Christian Sadie claimed gold in the men’s 50m freestyle S7 event.
Sadie produced a superb swim to win comfortably in a new Commonwealth Games record time of 28.06 seconds, adding yet another gold medal to Team South Africa’s growing collection.
Singapore’s Wei Soong Toh earned silver, while England’s Bruce Dee completed the podium with bronze.
Earlier in the evening, Kaylene Corbett delivered one of the finest swims of her career in the women’s breaststroke final.
After claiming bronze at the previous Commonwealth Games, Corbett went one better this time around, powering home for a well-earned silver medal in 2:24.46.
The South African finished behind Scotland’s Angharaad Evans but showed tremendous determination over the closing stages to secure her best-ever Commonwealth Games result.
There was more South African representation in the final, with Aimee Canny placing fifth in 2:25.05, while Rebecca Meder finished eighth in 2:30.25.
The latest medals add to what has already been an outstanding campaign for South Africa’s swimmers in Glasgow. Record-breaking performances, multiple podium finishes and several personal bests have kept Team SA firmly among the leading nations in the pool.
With Coetze now completing a historic backstroke treble and more finals still to come, South Africa’s swimming team continues to provide plenty of reasons for celebration as the Commonwealth Games enter their closing stages.
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