Pieter Coetzé is one race away from a golden hat-trick in Glasgow. The Commonwealth Games swimming star powered through his Men’s 100m Backstroke semi-final in a new Games record of 52.20 seconds, booking his place as the fastest qualifier heading into Wednesday’s final.
It was Pieter Coetzé’s sixth Games record of the week, and he wasn’t done there. Hours later, swimming the backstroke leg of South Africa’s mixed 4x100m medley relay, he went even quicker, splitting 51.98 to lower his own newly-minted Commonwealth Games record again and help the team to silver in an African record time.
Pieter Coetzé arrives at the 100m backstroke final already the reigning world champion in the event and with two golds banked from these Games — the 50m backstroke and the 200m backstroke, both won in record time at Tollcross International Swimming Centre. A third gold in the 100m would complete a full sweep of the backstroke disciplines, a feat few swimmers in Commonwealth Games history have managed.
His semi-final swim wasn’t particularly close. Pieter Coetzé got out fast in 25.09, half a second clear of England’s Ollie Morgan, before closing in 27.11 to stop the clock at 52.20. It was Ruard van Renen, Coetzé’s compatriot and training partner, who topped the first semi-final in 53.41, setting up an all-South African presence near the top of Wednesday’s field.
“You don’t get a world champion swimming a lifetime best relay split hours after breaking a Games record and call it a coincidence. Pieter Coetzé is building towards something special in that 100m backstroke final!” – 🎙️Jay
Pieter Coetzé’s own African record in the individual 100m backstroke stands at 51.85, set at last year’s World Championships, so the 51.98 relay split shows he’s within touching distance of that mark heading into the final. He’ll go in as the clear favourite, with Morgan and Van Renen the closest challengers after their semi-final showings.
The men’s 100m backstroke final goes off on Wednesday at 20:07 SA time, with Pieter Coetzé chasing a third gold medal and a clean sweep of every backstroke event on offer in Glasgow.
📸 Images via Swimming SA / World Aquatics
