Schoenmaker sets Olympic record, qualifies for final in 100m-breaststroke
Pretoria's swimming sensation, Tatjana Schoenmaker, is one round away from possibly her first Olympic medal, after she qualified for the final in the 100m breaststroke and on top of that improved the Olympic record in this item on Saturday.
South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker set a new Olympic and Africa record on Saturday in Tokyo when she won her 100m-breaststroke heat in a time of 1:04.82.
It means Schoenmaker is now ranked in the top ten of FINA’s all-time list in the 100m-breaststroke and the 200m-breaststroke.
Only four female swimmers ever recorded faster times in the 100m breaststroke. The world record is held by Lily King (USA). She swam 1:04.13 in 2017. Ruta Meilutyte (Lithaue) swam 1:04.35 in 2013; Yulia Efimova (Russia) 1:04.35 in 2017 and Jessica Hardy (USA) 1:04.45 in 2009.
Both King en Efimova is also competing in Tokyo. King was the third-fastest today, winning her heat in 1:05.55, while Efimova clocked a time of 1:06.21 to win her heat. Lydia Jacoby (USA) was the second-fastest today swimming 1:05.52.
Over the last 50 metres, it seemed as if Schoenmaker might lose her swimming cap. But she was so focussed that it did not seem to faze her.
“I’m very happy. I did not expect to be this fast. I decided beforehand that I would give it my all as it was the first time I raced at the Olympic Games. It was essential to see if I can keep my pace until the end,” she said after the race.
Schoenmaker meanwhile followed up her performance in the heat with a first-place finish in the semi-finals, which means that she now has to be one of the favourites to be crowned Olympic champion. Her winning time was 1:05,07.
It is speculated that Schoenmaker can be the first South African female swimmer to medal at the Olympics since Penny Heyns.
“I am aware that many people expect me to medal, but I try not to think about it. I am here to do my best. That is all I can do. My main focus always is to be faster. It should be remembered that the 200m-breaststroke is actually my better event,” she replied on the question if the possible medal is in her thoughts.
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