Team SA begins Olympic action on Thursday with three medals already in hand, but there is real hope that another trio will be added to the tally on 1 August.
Also read: Tatjana Smith claims SA’s first gold at Paris Olympics
Pieter Coetze, a talented youngster, will aim for a podium finish in the men’s 200m backstroke, while Tatjana Smith and Kaylene Corbett will be strong medal contenders in the women’s 200m breaststroke. In fact, the overwhelming hope will be for Smith to win another gold.
Team SA participates in five sports today. There is golf, hockey, cycling, swimming and surfing.
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Smith, who won Team SA’s first gold in the 100m breaststroke, will now focus on the prize in her favourite 200m event, though she will face stiff competition from semi-final winner Kate Douglass.
‘I wouldn’t say it was comfortable, but I really had fun,’ said Smith on Wednesday night.
‘I enjoyed every single moment. This is the part of swimming that I love… the competitiveness and challenging each other. She [Douglass] brought out the best in me today and I was very happy with that time.’
‘We’ve walked this journey since 2018 where we’ve been in every final together, so she’s played a massive role in where I am today. To share one last final with her is going to be amazing.’
‘I’ve given my best and come to the times that I want to, so tomorrow is really going to be a dog fight, but I’m just going to have fun with it. Whatever the result, I’m going to walk out happy.’
Corbett’s and Coetze’s exploits will also receive significant attention.
‘This is the fastest I’ve been since Tokyo, so I’m very, very happy with that time,’ Corbett said.
‘I’m slowly but surely chipping away at what I want one day. There’s definitely still a lot of fuel in the tank for a longer career. It’s not necessarily fuel in the tank for tomorrow, but I’m just really happy that I get to share this moment [with Tatjana].’
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Here is the Team SA schedule for Thursday, 1 August:
- Surfing: Women’s round 3 (8.48pm): Sarah Baum vs Clarissa Moore (USA)
- Cycling: BMX women’s quarter-finals (8.25pm): Miyanda Maseti
- Golf: Men’s Individual, first round, 9:33am: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, 11:17am: Erik van Rooyen
- Hockey: Women’s Pool B (5.30pm): Team SA vs Spain
- Swimming: Men’s 200m individual medley, heats (11:52am): Matthew Sates, Men’s 200m backstroke, final (8:38pm): Pieter Coetze, Women’s 200m breaststroke final (9:11pm): Tatjana Smith, Kaylene Corbett
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