Lara van Niekerk

Teenager Lara van Niekerk stole the limelight in the women’s 50m breaststroke on Day 1 in the pool at the Commonwealth Games. Photo: Team SA website

Commonwealth Games results: Team SA star Lara van Niekerk smashes breaststroke record

Teenager Lara van Niekerk stole the limelight in the women’s 50m breaststroke on Day 1 in the pool at the Commonwealth Games.

Lara van Niekerk

Teenager Lara van Niekerk stole the limelight in the women’s 50m breaststroke on Day 1 in the pool at the Commonwealth Games. Photo: Team SA website

Chad le Clos got off to a solid start at the Commonwealth Games on Friday, qualifying for the semi-finals of the men’s 50m butterfly, but it was teenager Lara van Niekerk who stole the limelight.

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Le Clos finished fifth in his heat in 23.80, which was enough to see him qualify eighth fastest for the semi-finals. 

Le Clos needs just one more medal to become the joint most decorated athlete in the history of the Commonwealth Games. 

There was also good news for South Africa’s Clayton Jimmie, who finished sixth in his heat in 24.17 to qualify 16th fastest for the semi-finals.

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In other results, Matthew Sates finished third in his heat for the men’s 400m in 3:49.69 which saw him progress as the sixth-fastest overall for the final.

Meanwhile, teenager Lara van Niekerk stormed to a Commonwealth Games record in the women’s 50m breaststroke heats.

Van Niekerk finished first in her heat, touching the wall in a record Games time of 29.82.

In the same heat, Olympic 200m breaststroke world record holder Tatjana Schoenmaker finished second behind her countrywoman with a time of 30.76.

Kaylene Corbett finished second in her heat in 31.07 seconds.

All three South Africans qualified – first, fourth and seventh – fastest for the semi-finals.

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Elsewhere, in the women’s 100m butterfly heats, Dune Coetzee, Trinity Hearne and Erin Gallagher all qualified for the semi-finals.

PICTURES | MEDALS UNVEILED FOR 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

TEAM SA SWIMMING RESULTS FROM DAY 1 AT THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Men’s 400m freestyle, heats: Matthew Sates finished 3rd in his heat in 3:49.69 and qualified 6th fastest for the final. Andrew Ross finished 7th in his heat in 3:58.44 and didn’t qualify for the final
Men’s 50m butterfly, heats: Chad Le Clos finished 5th in his heat in 23.80 and Clayton Jimmie finished 6th in his heat in 24.17. Both qualified for the semi-finals
Men’s 100m backstroke, heats: Pieter Coetze won his heat in 53.91 and qualified fastest for the semi-finals
Women’s 200m freestyle, heats: Aimee Canny finished 3rd in her heat in 2:00.10. She placed 9th overall and is first reserve for the final. Michaela Pulford finished 3rd in her heat in 2:01.21. She placed 12th overall and misses the final
Women’s 50m breaststroke, heats: Lara van Niekerk won her heat in a Games record 29.82 with Tatjana Schoenmaker 2nd in 30.76. Kaylene Corbett finished 2nd in her heat in 31.07. The South Africans qualified 1st 4th and 7th fastest for the semi-finals
Women’s 400m IM, heats: Rebecca Meder finished 5th in her heat in 4:51.65 for 9th overall. She is first reserve for the final
Women’s 100m butterfly, heats: Erin Gallagher finished 4th in her heat in 59.29, Dune Coetzee finished 4th in her heat in 1:00.19 and Trinity Hearne finished 7th in her heat in 1:00.42. All three progressed to the semi-finals
Mixed 4x100m freestyle relay heats: Team SA (Clayton Jimmie, Guy Brooks, Emma Chelius, Olivia Nel) registered a DSQ and the team did not progress to the final

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