For the second time in 72 hours Lara van Niekerk blew away the opposition on the way in which to profitable gold on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, this time including the 100m breaststroke title to the 50m crown she received so impressively, writes Gary Lemke for Team SA’s website.
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The Commonwealth is conquered, now carry on the world!
Still solely 19, Van Niekerk has come out of the shadows and is now set to blaze a breaststroke path that Penny Heyns began within the Nineteen Nineties when she broke 14 world information and received three Olympic medals, and which Tatjana Schoenmaker continued on the 2018 Commonwealth Games and final yr’s Tokyo Olympics.
That’s to not say Schoenmaker is disappearing from view.
She added 100m silver to the 200m gold, identical to she did in Tokyo, though now there’s one other child on the block as properly.
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And the joyous show of unity and camaraderie that Schoenmaker has shared on the rostrum with Kaylene Corbett within the 200m and now Van Niekerk within the 100m in Birmingham reveals what a champion she stays. If something, it highlights how dominant South Africa is on the planet of ladies’s breaststroke swimming.
Although the world has been in awe of Schoenmaker for just a few years now, Van Niekerk introduced herself in Birmingham and can go away with two gold medals and three Longines watches, courtesy of breaking three Games information within the 50m breaststroke.
Here she stepped as much as the 100m, although, taking over Schoenmaker, the Olympic silver medallist.
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Could {the teenager} convert that uncooked 50m pace into one thing that required extra stamina over the longer distance?
Would her nerves maintain in opposition to the formidable champion within the lane subsequent to her?
She answered that query emphatically and did so by pulling away from the sphere within the final 50m to take gold in 1:05.47.
Lara van Niekerk was the favorite for gold
That swim would have received her the world title in Budapest in June, which reveals that she’s now eating on the prime desk of the game.
Lara van Niekerk got here into the ultimate because the race favorite, in lane 4, with Schoenmaker in lane 5 and Kaylene Corbett, in lane one, making it a trio of South Africans within the ultimate at a packed Sandwell Aquatics Centre.
All three have been inseparable of their athletes’ village on the University of Birmingham and there was once more real curiosity in how every had been to carry out on this huge night time.
Van Niekerk pulled away within the center lane and led Schoenmaker to the wall at midway in 30.26. Her lead was a considerable 0.66 which only one lap to go.
It was additionally predictable given what she’d proven within the 50m.
Now, although, the Olympic silver medallist, who has been nearly unbeatable over 200m for the previous few years, was absolutely going to claw her again on the way in which residence?
And as a lot as Schoenmaker tried, her team-mate was faultless and actually got here residence 0.55 faster than her. Schoenmaker (1:06.68) held on to take silver forward of Australia’s Chelsea Hodges.
“I’m speechless,” Lara van Niekerk mentioned.
“I don’t this this will ever sink in. After the Worlds in June, which wasn’t the best gala for me, this means a lot. I really thought this race would come down to a touch, so I’m quite surprised when I touched the wall. I looked and thought, ‘Where’s Tatjana?’ I thought it would come down to the last touch and was preparing myself for it.”
Corbett, who had swum the race of her life in dipping underneath 1:07 within the semi-final, was clearly fatigued by that effort and completed seventh in 1:07.62.
All three will take medals residence with them, and so they have claimed 5 of the 9 breaststroke medals on supply right here. It is an exceptional achievement and regardless that Van Niekerk takes the person accolades, it was really a staff effort.
Afterwards, Schoenmaker highlighted the particular bond that exists between the sisters of the pool.
“I’m very blissful. I got here to do my greatest and that was one of the best on the day for me. It wasn’t my greatest time, however I’ve discovered these Games fairly difficult mentally, coming off the highs of Tokyo solely final yr.
“I got here right here to absorb the expertise. I don’t usually wave and smile, however I wished to take all of it in. I’m so blissful to be a part of this staff. It’s bizarre being the senior as a result of for years I’ve been one of many juniors. Seeing them take residence the medals right here has been a privilege to share these moments with them.
“Hopefully, there’s more to come. We’re here to represent South Africa and we want South Africa to be at the top.”