Confident Coetzé leads the charge for SA’s world champs swimming squad in Singapore

A team of 13 South Africans will dive into action as the swimming programme gets underway at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Sunday.

Leading the way for the South Africans will be young Pretoria swimmer Pieter Coetzé, who travelled directly to Singapore from Germany, where he was representing the country at the World University Games. The TUKS psychology student left the Games with a haul of three medals after taking gold in the 50 and 100m backstroke and silver in the 100m freestyle.

He was particularly pleased with the times he swam, dipping under 48 seconds for the first time in the 100m freestyle and under 52 seconds in the 100m backstroke.

Coetzé’s African record time of 51.99 seconds to take the 100m backstroke gold is the fastest in the world this year, boosting not only his confidence but also his chances of reaching the podium in Singapore.

“I was very happy with how Berlin went and with my performances there,” he said after touching down in Singapore. “It wasn’t really expected at all. I didn’t really know what to expect to be fair, but to swim a 51 in the 100 backstroke was definitely unexpected and definitely boosted my confidence.

“It’s also good to see the freestyle coming along. To go sub-48 was pretty cool and a big PB as well. So it was all a good sign for Singapore. It is quite close after Berlin, but I think things are looking good.”

Coetzé was the only South African to medal at the last World Championships in 2024, claiming bronze in the 200m backstroke and faces a tough task to repeat that feat in a competitive field.

“There have been some very fast times from all over and the field is very bunched up, but I think that’s just going to bring the best out of all of us, and we’ll push each other so I’m pretty excited to race all these guys who have put up fast times this year,” he said.

Also hoping for a great showing in Singapore is Coetzé’s Pretoria teammate Erin Gallagher, who will compete in the 50m and 100m butterfly and the 100m freestyle.

“The 100 fly I’m excited to see what I can do and see where I am and what improvements I can make, but I’ve put a lot of my energy and focus onto the 50 fly and 100 free,” she explained.

The 26-year-old was disappointed to miss out on an Olympic final in Paris last year but seems to be in a much better place heading into this competition.

“I feel much better in my body and much better in training, so I’m really looking forward to world champs because I feel like it’s going to be a way better reflection of what I’m capable of doing in the pool.”

In the absence of four-time Olympic medallist Tatjana Smith, who retired after the Paris Games, Kaylene Corbett and Rebecca Meder will be hoping to keep the country’s flag flying high in the 200m breaststroke.

Corbett is eager to see how a different approach to her training, to fit around her Honours studies this year, will translate in the pool.

“It’s different and I’m excited to see how the difference has changed things – whether it’s going to be really great. That’s the exciting part,” said the two-time Olympic finalist. “A happy swimmer is a fast swimmer and I’m definitely a lot happier, so I’m really excited to see where this goes.”

Meder will also compete in the 200m individual medley and the 100m breaststroke. She will be in action on Sunday in the 200m individual medley along with USA-based Aimee Canny.

Also in the mix for South Africa in Singapore is 21-year-old Matt Sates, who, after a training stint in Switzerland, is looking to bounce back from a disappointing Olympics with a solid showing at the World Championships. The former world short course champion is down to compete in the 200 and 400m individual medley, 200m freestyle and the 100 and 200m butterfly.

The swimming programme at the World Aquatics Championships runs from 27 July to 3 August.

SA swimming team:

Matthew Caldwell, Aimee Canny, Pieter Coetzé, Kaylene Corbett, Caitlin de Lange, Erin Gallagher, Rebecca Meder, Georgia Nel, Olivia Nel, Hannah Robertson, Matthew Sates, Chris Smith, Catherine van Rensburg