Star swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker claimed South Africa's first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo as she won the women's 200m breaststroke final on Friday, setting a new world record in the process.
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Swimming in lane 4, Schoenmaker timed her race to perfection, sitting behind American Lilly King for the first 100m before making her move over the last 100m.
It was a flawless display from the 24-year-old, who touched the wall in a time of 2:18.95.
The previous world record, set by Denmark's Rikke Moller Pedersen at the World Championships in 2013, was 2:19.11.
King took silver in 2:19.92 while American Annie Lazor rounded up the podium with the bronze medal (2:20.84).
South Africa's Kaylene Corbett finished 5th in a time of 2:22.06.
Schoenmaker makes history by becoming the first South African woman swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal since Penny Heyns at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Her win takes Team SA's medal tally in Tokyo to three after she won silver in the women's 100m breaststroke earlier this week, while surfer Bianca Buitendag also won a silver medal on Tuesday.
WORLD RECORD!!!! Tatjana Schoenmaker wins the Olympic 200m breaststroke gold medal in a WR 2:18.95. Kaylene Corbett finished 5th in 2:22.06#TeamSA #Tokyo2020 — Team South Africa (@TeamSA2020) July 30, 2021
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT ??Tatjana Schoenmaker wins #GOLD in the 200M Breaststroke, breaking the world record in the process.American's Lilly King and Anne Lazor, who won #silver and #bronze, celebrated Schoenmaker's achievement. (via @NBCOlympics) pic.twitter.com/cf2OIOi458 — Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 30, 2021