Pieter Coetzé leads the charge as SA swimmers rake in three more medals

Pieter Coetzé celebrates his victory in the 50m backstroke final. Picture: Adam Pretty/Getty Images Backstroke specialist Pieter Coetzé spearheaded the charge on Saturday, with the South African team securing another three podium places in the swimming pool, raising their tally to six medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Coetzé stormed to victory in the men’s 50m backstroke final, winning gold in a Games record of 24.18.

Behind him, countryman Ruard van Renen also earned a spot on the podium, snatching bronze in 24.51. “This is an amazing feeling,” said 22-year-old Coetzé, who had joined Van Renen in the 4x100m freestyle relay team thatgrabbed bronze the night before. “I have had to overcome challenges in training for these Games and have been through quite a tough time, so I didn’t know what was going to happen, and the way it’s worked out means a lot to me.

I’ve never sung the national anthem on the podium with a teammate before.” In the women’s 50m butterfly final, Erin Gallagher secured her second medal of the Games. Gallagher, who had also earned a relay bronze on Friday night, bagged silver in the women’s 50m butterfly final on Saturday, with compatriots Jessica Thompson (25.92) and Caitlin de Lange (26.33) finishing fourth and sixth respectively to showcase the nation’s depth. In the men’s 100m breaststroke final, Michael Houlie (1:00.35) and Chris Smith (1:00.79) took seventh and eighth positions.

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Looking ahead to the evening session in the pool on Sunday, multiple SA swimmers were set to target medals after qualifying for finals in their events. They included Calvyn Justus (men’s 50m freestyle),Chad le Clos(100m butterfly), Olivia Nel (women’s 100m backstroke), and Aimee Canny, Kaylene Corbett and Rebecca Meder (women’s 100m breaststroke). Coetzé could also line up in the men’s 200m backstroke final, provided he progresses through the morning heats.

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