South Africa has won its first medal of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics thanks to swim star Tatjana Schoenmaker.

SA swimming duo Tatjana Schoenmaker and Kaylene Corbett have comfortably advanced to the women’s 200m breaststroke final in Tokyo. Photo by Anton Geyser/SASPA/SASI

Team SA win 1st medal at Tokyo Olympics as Tatjana Schoenmaker takes SILVER

South Africa has won its first medal of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics thanks to swim star Tatjana Schoenmaker.

South Africa has won its first medal of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics thanks to swim star Tatjana Schoenmaker.

SA swimming duo Tatjana Schoenmaker and Kaylene Corbett have comfortably advanced to the women’s 200m breaststroke final in Tokyo. Photo by Anton Geyser/SASPA/SASI

South Africa won its first medal of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday thanks to swim star Tatjana Schoenmaker.

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And it wasn’t just ANY medal – it was a SILVER medal!

Schoenmaker was-out-touched by American 17-year-old Lydia Jacoby who won in a time of 1:04.95 with Schoenmaker second in 1:05.22.

American world record holder Lilly King took the bronze medal in 1:05.54.

The second-place finish denied 24-year-old Schoenmaker a chance at a 100m-200m breaststroke double as she looked to follow in the footsteps of fellow South African Penny Heyns who achieved the feat 25 years ago at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

Tatjana Schoenmaker will begin her quest for victory in the 200m breaststroke in Heat 4 on Wednesday, 28 July at 12:49 SA time.

READ | EXPERTS PREDICT SOUTH AFRICA WILL WIN FOUR MEDALS AT TOKYO OLYMPICS