Lucky Sithole
World record holder. Gold medalist. Champion.
As Tatjana Schoenmaker touched the wall after the fourth lap of the 200m breast stroke her victory seemed inevitable but it didn’t look that certain exactly when the race started.
Although she was lying second for the first three laps, she appeared to be swimming comfortably, about half a metre behind Lily King from the United States, but at the turn she shortened the stroke and won quite comfortably.
Then she looked up at the scoreboard, saw the time, and at last, overcome with emotion the tears came.
Her friend and training partner, Kaylene Corbett, apparently unphased that she had finished outside the medals came over to hug her and congratulate her – and so did the other swimmers.
A moment to savour. A great victory for Schoenmaker and all of South Africa. It was worth it.
Image source: @gggamingbet
