Organisers have confirmed a change in time for every race set to be contested on Monday, 29 July in the pool at the Paris La Defense Arena.
Enjoy the Paris Olympic Games 2024 experience at your favourite ATKV Resort!
All eyes will be on South Africa’s Tatjana Smith in the final of the women’s 100m breaststroke.
Originally the race was set to start at 21:25 (SA time), but now will start at 21:34 (SA time).
In addition, the final of the men’s 100m backstroke in which South Africa’s Pieter Coetze will compete, will now start at 21:27 and not 21:19.
All the changes in time can be found below.
Laid down a marker
Meanwhile, Tatjana Smith (née Schoenmaker) came into the Paris Olympics 2024 as the silver medallist from Tokyo in the 100m breaststroke and the gold medallist in the 200m.
Few would bet against her surpassing her heroics there and taking gold-gold at these Games.
She certainly laid down that marker by blazing her way to victory in both her heat and semi-final in the 100m at the Paris La Defense Arena on Sunday.
Amazingly, she touched the wall in winning both races on the day in 1:05.00. How rare is that? Then again, the 27-year-old South African is a rare talent.
Firm favourite to claim gold
Smith has always said that she takes races one at a time. She says that she swims as fast as she can and doesn’t look at the time. She says she ought to hold something back in the 100m because the 200m is her preferred event. However, that doesn’t look to be the case when you’re watching from the stands.
She is now a firm favourite to claim gold on Monday night.
“I’m just so grateful swimming to be good times again,” the Team SA superstar said.
“I haven’t been close to my time from Tokyo (1:04.82), so to be swimming my best times since then is an amazing feeling. I’m just happy to be enjoying every race and it doesn’t matter what times I do put up. It’s about the experience and how happy I am to be here doing what I’m doing.”
The first semi-final of the evening was won by China’s Qianting Tang in 1:05.83. She was leading the world rankings in the event coming to Paris, with a time of 1:04.39, but she hasn’t threatened that time in Paris and won the first semi-final, the slower of the two, in 1:05.83. That places her fourth fastest heading into the final, with Mona McSharry (1:05.51) and Lily King (1:05.64) emerging as bigger threats to the South African.
Betway odds
Smith, racing as Tatjana Schoemaker in Tokyo three years ago, had then lowered the Olympic record to 1:04.82, also in the semi-finals. That was without a crowd due to the Covid-19 restrictions. Here the crowd will have give her an extra gear and after that eye-popping morning heat of 1:05.00 she returned to the pool for the evening swim and mirrored that swim.
In the heats she went out and turned in 30.57, before coming back to touch in 1:05.00.
In the evening she went out and 30.63, before coming back to touch in 1:05.00. So, marginally of course, she went out faster in the morning, but came home quicker in the evening. Either way, it’s gold medal form.
Leading South African bookmakers Betway have installed Smith as the 9/20 favourite to win the gold medal on Monday evening.
Qianting Tang is next best at 17/5, followed by Lilly King (47/5) and Mona McSharry (19/2).
Expect to hear Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika once again ring out in France tonight.
TIME CHANGES FOR MONDAY, 29 JULY SWIMMING
Men’s 200m Freestyle Final originally scheduled at 20:40 has been shifted to 20:41
Women’s 400m Individual Medley Victory Ceremony originally scheduled at 20:47 has been shifted to 20:49
Women’s 100m Backstroke Semifinals originally scheduled at 20:57 has been shifted to 21:01
Men’s 200m Freestyle Victory Ceremony originally scheduled at 21:09 has been shifted to 21:15
Men’s 100m Backstroke Final originally scheduled at 21:19 has been shifted to 21:27
Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final originally scheduled at 21:25 has been shifted to 21:34
Men’s 100m Backstroke Victory Ceremony originally scheduled at 21:31 has been shifted to 21:41
Women’s 200m Freestyle Final originally scheduled at 21:41 has been shifted to 21:53
Women’s 100m Breaststroke Victory Ceremony originally scheduled at 21:48 has been shifted to 22:01
Women’s 200m Freestyle Victory Ceremony originally scheduled at 21:58 has been shifted to 22:13
The end of the session originally scheduled at 22:08 has been shifted to 22:25
For the latest Paris Olympics 2024 news, bookmark The South African website’s dedicated section for free-to-read content
