Latest news with #Coetzé
Daily Maverick
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
SA's Pieter Coetzé clinches gold at World Aquatics Championships in Singapore
South Africa earned their first medal at the World Aquatics Championships after star swimmer Pieter Coetzé claimed gold in the 100m backstroke on Tuesday. South African swimming sensation Pieter Coetzé won the gold medal in the 100m backstroke final at the World Aquatic Championships in Singapore on Tuesday. Coetzé is the first South African medallist at this year's championships. The 21-year-old raced home in 51.85 seconds, an African record in the event. Despite dominating local pools and smaller competitions, it was Coetzé's first world senior title. At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris last year, he finished fifth in the same event, with a time of 52.58. The winner was Italy's Thomas Ceccon, who completed the two-lap event in 52 seconds flat. On this occasion, it was Coetzé who touched the wall quickest, ahead of Ceccon, who finished second in 51.90 seconds. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard of France took the bronze medal in 51.92 seconds. Coetzé was a mere 0.25 seconds off Ceccon's world record. 'I always thought it would happen eventually,' said Coetzé, referring to his first senior world title. 'In my mind, it was just a matter of time, but to do it this year is amazing. 'It was awesome. The competition was very deep here, so there were eight guys who could have won it. 'Every time I break [the African record], I'm really happy with it. 'I can't explain, but it was more about the win tonight than the time, so if I won with a second slower time, it would still be as good. In the final, you don't really think about the time at all.' A backstroke clinic Coetzé's first 50m weren't that quick, and he dropped to fourth place in the opening lap, after qualifying third-fastest in his semifinal. But his turn at the wall was faultless, and he picked up speed underwater before turning on the afterburners as Russian swimmer Kliment Kolesnikov slipped from pole position. The big push came in the final 20m, when Coetzé took the lead for the first time and didn't let it slip, reaching out and touching the wall ahead of Ceccon. It was the second time the talented young athlete had claimed a win in sub-52, after he took home gold at the World University Games earlier this month, finishing in 51.99 seconds — an African record at the time. 'The University Games prepared me really well,' said Coetzé. 'The guys went fast there as well. But I'm over the moon. It was anyone's game. I knew that going into it, and to get away with the win is awesome.' The superstar swimmer still has the 50m and 200m backstroke events to come at the World Aquatics Championships. Other SA contenders Earlier in the evening, Coetzé's teammate Chris Smith booked his ticket to the final of the 50m breaststroke. The 19-year-old won his morning heat in 26.82 seconds and then went even better in the evening semifinals, finishing second in a personal best time of 26.77 seconds, behind Koen de Groot (26.71). That saw him through to Wednesday's final as the joint fifth-fastest. The other South African in action in the evening session was Aimee Canny, who had finished third in her morning heat in 1:57.53 to qualify eighth fastest for the 200m freestyle semifinals. She went slightly slower in the semifinal, finishing in sixth place in 1:57.72, missing out on the final in 12th overall. Apart from Smith taking to the blocks for the 50m breaststroke final, Wednesday's programme will see Olivia Nel, fresh from her four medals at the World University Games, lining up in the heats of the 50m backstroke, while Matt Sates is in the 200m individual medley and the South Africans will be in action in the mixed 4x100m medley relay. DM
The Herald
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Pieter Coetzé takes gold as he torpedoes world's best backstrokers
Pieter Coetzé torpedoed the world's best backstrokers as he raced to gold in the 100m event at the world championships in Singapore on Tuesday, claiming South Africa's first medal of the gala. The race featured the Olympic 100m and 200m backstroke champions and while it was neck-and-neck for 75m, when Coetzé put the hammer down his rivals were unable to respond. The 21-year-old touched in 51.85sec — equalling the world's third-fastest time achieved in this event — with Italian Thomas Ceccon, the owner of the 51.60 world record and gold medallist from the 2024 Paris Games, second in 51.90 and Frenchman Yohann Ndoye-Brouard third in 51.92. Hungarian Hubert Kos, the Olympic 200m backstroke champion, was fourth in 52.20. Just more than a week ago Coetzé became the first swimmer in two years to dip under 52 seconds in the 100m backstroke when he won the World Student Games gold in 51.99.
The South African
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
GOLD for South Africa's Pieter Coetzé in the pool in Singapore
Pieter Coetzé powered his way to South Africa's first medal of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, claiming gold in the 100m backstroke on Tuesday. The 21-year-old was third fastest in the semi-finals, but outduelled Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon and France's Yohann Ndoye-Brouard in the second half of the final to reach the wall in a sensationally quick new African record time of 51.85 seconds, just 0.25 of a second off Ceccon's world record. The Italian was second in 51.90 seconds, with Ndoye-Brouard third in 51.92 and 200m backstroke Olympic champion Hubert Kos relegated to fourth in 52.20. 'I always thought it would happen eventually,' admitted Coetzé afterwards during his poolside TV interview. 'In my mind, it was just a matter of time, but to do it this year is amazing.' Speaking again a little later, he added: 'It was awesome. The competition was very deep here, so there were eight guys who could have won it. 'The [World] University Games prepped me really well. The guys went fast there as well. But I'm over the moon. It was anyone's game. I knew that going into it and to get away with the win is awesome.' As for the time he swam, the TUKS psychology student added: 'Every time I break [the African record], I'm really happy with it. I can't explain, but it was more about the win tonight than the time, so if I won with a second slower time, it would still be as good. I think in a final, you don't really think about the time at all.' With one medal already in the bag, Coetzé still has the 50m and 200m backstroke events to come. Earlier in the evening, his team-mate Chris Smith booked his ticket to the final of the 50m breaststroke. The 19-year-old won his morning heat in 26.82 seconds and then went even better in the evening semifinals, finishing second in a personal best time of 26.77 seconds, behind Koen de Groot (26.71). That saw him through to Wednesday's final as the joint fifth fastest. The other South African in action in the evening session was Aimee Canny, who had finished third in her morning heat in 1:57.53 to qualify eighth fastest for the 200m freestyle semi-finals. She went slightly slower in the semi-final, finishing in sixth place in 1:57.72, so missing out on the final in 12th overall. Apart from Smith taking to the blocks for the 50m breaststroke final, Wednesday's programme will see Olivia Nel, fresh from her four medals at the World University Games, lining up in the heats of the 50m backstroke while Matt Sates will take on the 200m individual medley and the South Africans will be in action in the mixed 4x100m medley relay. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Eyewitness News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
Pieter Coetzé wins SA's first gold medal at World Swimming Championships
JOHANNESBURG – Pieter Coetzé won South Africa's first medal of the World Swimming Championships in Singapore. Coetzé snatched gold in the men's 100m backstroke on Tuesday and set a new African record of 51.85 in a tight race, with the entire field finishing within less than a second of one another. The 21-year-old South African star touched the wall first, with the Paris 2024 champion Thomas Ceccon just .05 seconds behind him to claim silver in 51.90, with France's Yohann Ndoye-Brouard earning his first world championship medal with a bronze in 51.92. "I always thought it would happen eventually. In my mind, it was just a matter of time. I can't say it was expected as it was a gamble right after the World University Games,' said Coetze. READ MORE: SA swimmer Pieter Coetzé books spot in the 100m backstroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore Pieter Coetzé leads the pack as he qualifies for 4 World Aquatics Championships events Pieter Coetzé snatches the first World Aquatics Championships qualifying time at the SA National Championships
IOL News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Coetzé claims shock gold in 100m backstroke with record-breaking finish
Pieter Coetzé won the men's 100m backstroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore with a new African record time of 51.85 seconds on Tuesday. Photo: Backpagepix The 21-year-old Tuks student clocked a blistering 51.85 seconds — dipping under 52 seconds for the second time in just two weeks — to out-touch Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon of Italy, who took silver in 51.90, and France's Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, who claimed bronze in 51.95. Pieter Coetzé stormed to a surprise gold medal in the men's 100m backstroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Monday, breaking his own South African and African record for the third time in rapid succession. Coetzé had arrived in Singapore carrying the world lead, courtesy of his 51.99 performance at the World Student Games in Germany last week — a swim that also set African and World Student Games records, and made him only the eighth man in history to break the 52-second barrier in the event. Despite this form, the South African was not seen as a favourite for the title in a stacked final field. He had qualified third-fastest (52.29) behind Hungary's Hubert Kós (52.21) and Russia's Kliment Kolesnikov, who posted a stunning 51.26 in the semis. In the final, the leading swimmers were level with 25 metres to go, before Coetzé unleashed a devastating late surge, kicking strongly in the final 10 metres to touch first in a remarkably close finish, with all three medallists under 52 seconds. Meanwhile, fellow South African Chris Smith booked his place in the men's 50m breaststroke final with a strong swim in the semi-finals. He finished second in his heat in a time of 26.77 seconds, behind Koen de Groot of the Netherlands. The final is scheduled for Wednesday.
