Our queen of the waters, Tatjana Schoenmaker made world history as she not only set an Olympic world record, but also claimed SA’s first glorious gold in the Tokyo Olympics. Our golden girl showed the world’s finest how it’s done in dominating the women’s 200m breaststroke final today. South Africans were up at the crack of dawn to support her, and the tweets of love and adoration have been flooding in.
Reading the tweets from locals shows us how sport and our sports legends really do build a nation, and secure unity as many thanked Schoenmaker for making our flag a proud symbol again. This idea of sports in nation building was enhanced by Madiba most powerfully in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Sports nationalism is not to be underrated and Schoenmaker shows us this.
What. A. Moment.
An unbelievable swim and a new World Record from Tatjana Schoenmaker in the women’s 200m breaststroke, handing #RSA their first gold medal of #Tokyo2020!@fina1908 @TeamSA2020 #Swimming pic.twitter.com/P4xroaAx0d
— Olympics (@Olympics) July 30, 2021
Rise, South Africa, rise!!
Well done #TatjanaSchoenmaker ???? pic.twitter.com/arbQBl6sD2
— Alviro Petersen (@AlviroPetersen) July 30, 2021
Even the ground shook.??#TatjanaSchoenmaker #WorldRecord pic.twitter.com/uro2p8Ns57
— Masechaba Khumalo ???️? (@MKhumalo___) July 30, 2021
The best national anthem is about to be ring aroun the arena #RSA ?#Tokyo2020 #Olympics #TokyoOlympics #TatjanaSchoenmaker #Swimming pic.twitter.com/8X1Cg5wK7R
— Kenny Aphane ?? (@Llekamania_) July 30, 2021
National Anthem, World Record, #Athletics #TatjanaSchoenmaker, this here send strong message to the world that South Africa is capable and can rise above. pic.twitter.com/6o3oE9huNi
— Mabob1023 (@mabob1023) July 30, 2021
GOLD AND WORLD RECORD FOR TATJANA SCHOENMAKER. I’m in tears and my neighbours hate me! #Olympics ??????
— Sibongile Mafu (@sboshmafu) July 30, 2021
I dream of a South Africa?? that is #1 in sports, science, medicine, good governance, innovation, engineering, job creation etc. #tatjanaschoenmaker #TeamSA #Olympics World Record pic.twitter.com/hkp41AmCSl
— Mangi Tshikomba ???? (@mangi_tshikomba) July 30, 2021
#TatjanaSchoenmaker South Africa ?? is grateful and we love you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/cEMJy1EFyT
— Ntsika (@NtsikaNgalo) July 30, 2021
I just can’t get enough of this ?? This performance has too much sauce ?? Remember this name #TatjanaSchoenmaker ?? Our world record holder? Our golden girl ??#TeamSA#TokyoOlympics2020 pic.twitter.com/5lp6hsxW5u
— Zodwa Makhanya (@zodwamakhanya) July 30, 2021
#TatjanaSchoenmaker
She did not just win an Olympic Gold? medal in the 200m breaststroke but she swam faster than everyone else in history?. Thank you @TRSchoenmaker for flying the South African ?? flag high. pic.twitter.com/B7EucTzoJz— Gerald Thwala ◢ ◤ (@GeraldMatimu) July 30, 2021
A very proud moment for South Africa, and Africa as a whole.
World Record ???@TeamSA2020 @TRSchoenmaker #TatjanaSchoenmaker pic.twitter.com/nCrlZumyeb— Sakhiseni Nxumalo (@SakhiNxumalo) July 30, 2021
Congratulations to our champion on setting World Record. Made our country proud ????#TatjanaSchoenmaker pic.twitter.com/mqaWqyLaGs
— Boitumelo?? (@Boity224) July 30, 2021
Picture: Twitter/ South African Sports image