World champion Coetze proud to join South African swimming greats

Pretoria swimmer Pieter Coetze said he is honoured to be named in the same league as former Proteas swimmers and his icons like Roland Schoeman and Chad le Clos.

Coetze won three of South Africa’s four medals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, including the country’s only gold in the 100m backstroke. In doing so, he set a new African record and became world champion — a dream he has had since taking the sport seriously.

The 21-year-old also earned silver medals in the 50m and 200m backstroke events, while Kaylene Corbett secured a bronze in the 200m breaststroke.

Those results came on the back of a taxing schedule. A Tuks alum, Coetze had just returned from Germany, where he competed at the World University Games. There, he won gold in the 50m and 100m backstroke and claimed silver in the 100m freestyle.

“It’s been a really successful few weeks,” said Coetze.

“Germany set me up really nicely. I was there with my friends and the people I train with every day. I don’t always get to do that, so it was a lot of fun and there wasn’t much pressure on me. I was able to race and just enjoy myself.

“I had to reset straight after that and go to Singapore without tiring myself out too much or overthinking it. The main thing I focused on was just letting it happen because I had already done the work. I think it went better than I expected, especially to get the gold and finally become world champion.

“It’s something I always knew I would do eventually, but to now finally reach that goal is a relief.”

Becoming a world champion represents a new level in his career — one he once aspired to when he first began competing seriously.

Now the reigning world champion in the 100m backstroke, and only the second South African man to win three medals at a long-course world championship after Schoeman, Coetze said he is “on top of the world”.

“I am very satisfied with my performance and to see myself at that level,” he said.

“I think it was Roland’s record that got equalled. Just people like Roland, Chad, and Tatjana — people who have achieved incredible things — and to now hear my name mentioned with theirs is something I dreamt of since I started swimming more seriously.”

Reflecting on the championships, Coetze said the conditions helped him settle and perform.

“It started off with a bang with the gold. Then it was just about gathering my thoughts and emotions and going again, which I think I did quite well. It’s quite different from the Olympics because there you’re in a village and the conditions aren’t the best.

“In Singapore, I was in my own hotel room with my own schedule, which made it easier to perform.”