Dylan Bettencourt
Swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker has won South Africa’s first medal at this year’s Olympic games by coming second in the women’s 100m breaststroke event.
She is the first female swimmer to win an Olympic medal since Penny Heyns’ bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Schoenmaker started fiercely in lane four and looked in contention to win the gold when she was the first to reach the turn, but American teenager Lydia Jacobs had an incredible last stretch to claim the gold medal. The South African finished with a time of 1:05.22 and the 17-year-old Jacobs finished in 1:04.95.
It is an incredible feat for Schoenmaker who specialises in the 200m events.
“It’s amazing!” said Schoenmaker.
She said she hoped South Africans would draw some hope from her success.
“We’re obviously going through a tough time at the moment,” she said.
“We know sport unites people. We’ve seen it with the Rugby World Cup, so hopefully, the Olympics does the same.”
The silver medalist will now refocus her attention to her preferred 200m breaststroke heats which are scheduled for Wednesday 12:49pm.
Image source: @TeamSA2020
