South Africa’s Schoenmaker sets new world record in Olympics
Her 100m Olympic medal was the first by a female swimmer from South Africa in 21 years
South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker won her second medal in swimming after posting one of the stand out performances in Tokyo as she broke the world record to win gold the women’s 200m breaststroke.
Her time of 2:18.95 eclipsed the record of Denmark’s Rikke Moller Pedersen sent in 2013.
It was a second medal of the Games for the 24-year-old South African after she won silver in the 100m breaststroke.
“It still hasn’t sunk in. I don’t wish my Olympic dream over, but I am excited to go and celebrate even just being at the Olympics with my parents,” she said after her victory.
She also paid tribute to fellow South African and 1996 double Olympic breaststroke champion Penny Heyns.
“I see her (Heyns) at major competitions which is amazing. For her to come and say good luck and congrats is so special because she used to be such an amazing swimmer and has such a name in the swimming world,” she added.
“For her to come to us – even though I haven’t achieved much yet – is very special.”
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