Coetze’s gamble pays off with stunning world title in Singapore

South Africa’s young swim sensation Pieter Coetzé’s impressive recent spell in the pool continued with a gold medal in the 100m backstroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Tuesday.

The new world champion stormed to the win, dipping below 52 seconds for the second time in the past two weeks. It was a victory that the Tuks psychology student felt was coming at some stage, though he admitted he didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

The South African kicked with about 10m to go to take the title in 51.85 seconds, lowering his own South African and African record for the third time in quick succession. He narrowly missed out on the world record of 51.60.

Olympic champion and world record holder Thomas Ceccon of Italy took silver in 51.90, while Yohann Ndoye-Brouard of France claimed bronze in 51.95.

The 21-year-old Coetzé had posted the world lead in the 100m backstroke earlier this year, when he swam an African and World Student Games record time of 51.99 seconds in Germany—becoming only the eighth swimmer in history to go under 52 seconds in the event.

There was a risk that those exertions would have taken too much out of the rising star to remain competitive at the Singapore showpiece. Thankfully for Coetzé, it gave him the sharpness he needed to pull off the win in a closely contested final few metres.

“I always thought it would happen eventually. In my mind, it was just a matter of time. To do it this year is amazing and I can’t say it was expected, especially because it was a gamble going to the World University Games right before this. But it’s working pretty well,” Coetzé said, in his post-race television interview.

Speaking again a little later, he added: “It was awesome. The competition was very deep here, so there were eight guys who could have won it.

“The (World) University Games prepped me really well. The guys went fast there as well. But I’m over the moon. It was anyone’s game. I knew that going into it, and to get away with the win is awesome.”

He said of the time he swam: “Every time I break (the African record`0, I’m really happy with it.

"I can’t explain, but it was more about the win tonight than the time, so if I won with a second slower time, it would still be as good. I think in a final you don’t really think about the time at all.”

Coetzé had qualified third-fastest for the final, behind Hungary’s Hubert Kós (52.21) and Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov (51.26). With the leading swimmers deadlocked with 25m to go, Coetzé produced a devastating burst of pace to surge to the wall and claim victory. The top three all finished under 52 seconds.

He will return to the pool on Thursday for the heats and semi-final of the 200m backstroke — an event in which he won bronze at last year’s World Championships. On Saturday, he is also set to compete in the 50m backstroke heats and semi-final.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Chris Smith secured his place in the 50m men’s breaststroke final in Singapore with a second-place finish in Tuesday’s semi-final in an impressive time of 26.77, behind Koen de Groot of the Netherlands. The final is scheduled for Wednesday.

Wednesday’s programme will also see Olivia Nel, fresh from her four medals at the World University Games, lining up in the heats of the 50m backstroke. Matt Sates will take on the 200m individual medley and the South Africans will also be in action in the mixed 4x100m medley relay.