South Africa’s very own Tatjana Schoenmaker smashed the women’s 200m breaststroke world record on Thursday, July 30 to bring home the first Olympic gold medal for the country.
Schoenmaker (24) hit the wall at 2:18:95 to better the 2:19:11 set previously by Denmark’s Rikke Moller Pedersen back in 2013. Coming in second was Lilly King from the USA and third was Annie Lazor also from the US.
She also broke the seal for South Africa by winning the first medal at the Tokyo Olympics – she won silver in the 100m event.
She is the first woman from the country to win an Olympic swimming gold since 1996, when Penny Heyns won the women’s 100 and 200 breaststroke.
South Africans shared their well wishes and congratulations with the olympian:
“Well done. You make me proud to be a South African.”
“Yes Yes Congratulations and Well done! Welcome to bring your beautiful golden medal to your home.”
“Fantastic- well done – you have done the country proud!”
“Hard work and dedication and hours of training ALWAYS pays off, well done!!!!!”
“Oh wow! Brilliant
you are reaping the rewards of all your hard work and dedication to the sport. A very well done. Proudly
“
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