Dylan Bettencourt
Tatjana Schoenmaker has revealed she was happier for her teammate Kaylene Corbett than she was for herself winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Schoenmaker and Corbett took to the pool for the women’s 200m breaststroke final on Sunday night.
Schoenmaker, the world record holder in the event, dominated the race and touched the finish wall well ahead of the pack.
But when she realised Corbett had earned a bronze medal by finishing third, Schoenmaker immediately crossed over the lane dividers to congratulate her compatriot.
“I’m very happy. Not as happy for myself as I am for my friend Kaylene,” Schoenmaker said after the race.
“I didn’t care what my time was and where I was. I knew Kaylene could do it and I wanted her to prove to herself that she could do it.”
The pair train together at the University of Pretoria.
Last year in Tokyo they lined up together where Schoenmaker won Olympic gold and set a world record. Corbett finished in fifth spot.
Schoenmaker said after the race that she would not have wanted anyone else to celebrate the moment with.
“I think what made the medal more special was sharing it with Kaylene. It was nice to have that moment with her,” she said.
Schoenmaker will now turn her attention to defending her 100m breaststroke crown in the heats, the semis with the finals set for Monday night.
“It’s half the distance so we’re finding the middle ground. I’m excited,” said Schoenmaker.
Schoenmaker will hope to be alongside Corbett once again with Commonwealth Games gold medalist Lara van Niekerk also set to be in the mix.
Image source: @TheCitizen
