South Africa’s breaststroke stars are once again expected to make a splash when the swimming competition at the World Aquatics Championships gets under way this coming weekend.

Tatjana Schoenmaker and Lara van Niekerk lead the team of SA swimmers competing in Fukuoka, Japan.

Schoenmaker is returning to the country where she claimed Olympic gold and silver in the 200m and 100m breaststroke back in 2021, and will be looking to make a statement ahead of next year’s Games in Paris.

“Obviously it’s going to be a bit different because it’s not Tokyo but I love Japan and I’m so excited that we maybe, hopefully get to explore a little in terms of not being completely confined to a village so that’s quite exciting,” said the 26-year-old.

For Schoenmaker it is a stepping stone and a great opportunity to race some of the girls who will be racing at the Olympics in Paris next year.

“I think it’s the biggest championships for swimming as a sport so it’s a big deal, but whatever happens there is not the result of what’s going to happen in Paris, so I don’t think we put too much pressure on it. It’s just to get that racing done,” the Olympic champion said.

Schoenmaker will be returning to the World Championships for the first time since 2019 when she claimed a breakthrough silver medal in the 200m breaststroke.

“It’s almost weird to say it’s only my second one (World Championships) now but it’s been such an incredible journey. I’m excited to get some international racing in. I haven’t raced some of these girls since the Olympics and obviously there are some new faces. So I’m excited to get racing again and just get into that zone for the build-up to the Olympics,” Schoenmaker concluded.

Also eager to put herself to the test once again is fellow breaststroker, Van Niekerk, who claimed South Africa’s only medal at the last World Championships in Budapest last year, taking bronze in the 50m breaststroke. She then went on to bag double gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

“I think for any swimmer there is always some pressure they put on themselves to perform. But I think last year’s results just show me what is possible and that makes me more excited to race the best again,” Van Niekerk remarked.

The 20-year-old is now well-versed in competing at international level.

“There are always nerves, but experience definitely helps you to get more used to racing at the level consistently. And it is great to have made some friends with the ladies I race and that makes it much more fun,” she commented.

As for the prospect of competing at her first Olympics in Paris next year, the African 50m breaststroke record holder added that the World Champs will be a stepping stone to Paris, and she think it will give her and her coach a good idea of what needs to be tweaked in the lead-up to Paris.

“But I am also not thinking too far ahead, I am just focused on giving of my best in Japan and then I will begin focusing on next year,” Van Niekerk said.

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