Pieter Coetzé booked a spot in the 100m backstroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore after powering to second place in his semifinal on Monday.
The 21-year-old star had booked his place in the semifinals with a time of 52.80 seconds in his morning heat and then went quicker in the semis, touching in a time of 52.29.
That saw him qualifying third fastest for the final behind Hungary’s Hubert Kos (52.21) and Russian Kliment Kolesnikov (51.26).
Coetzé heads into Tuesday night’s final with the fastest time in the world this year after claiming gold at the World University Games in an impressive African record time of 51.99 seconds just nine days ago.
“It was good. I just wanted to make it back for the final and I was happy with the time and the swim, and to get second in the semis is a good result,” he said after the semifinal.
“I knew it was going to be fast… I’ve swum with most of these guys but the Russians are new to me. I haven’t swum against them and they’re also really fast, but I don’t really focus on the people I’m racing against. I just focus on what I need to do.”
As for the final, Coetzé added: “I know what I need to do, so I’ll just go and look at the video and see where I can work on things and come back refreshed tomorrow.”
Earlier in the day, three other South Africans were in action in the morning heats.
Rebecca Meder finished ninth in her heat and 27th overall in the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1:07.50, explaining afterwards: “It was a personal best time for me, so I can’t complain, that’s the best I’ve ever swum in the 100 breast.”
Meanwhile, Matt Sates finished 32nd overall in the 200m freestyle heats in a time of 1:48.45.
“It wasn’t my best one, I think I went out a little bit hard, so I died at the end,” he said afterwards. “But it’s nice racing for South Africa and to get the first race done.”
After finishing 26th overall in the 1500m freestyle, Catherine van Rensburg, who also competed in the open water events at these championships, explained: “That was very hard. I did not enjoy it really. I felt strong in the warm-up and all, but it looks like it didn’t all work out.”
Swimming action continues at the World Aquatics Championships on Tuesday with Chris Smith in the 50m breaststroke heats and Aimee Canny in the 200m freestyle heats, while Coetzé will be gunning for South Africa’s first medal of the event in the 100m backstroke final in the evening session.
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