TOKYO: Tatjana Schoenmaker won the women’s 200m breaststroke today in a world record time of 2:18.95s to deliver South Africa’s first gold medal of the Tokyo Games.
US swimmers Lilly King and Annie Lazor took the silver and bronze medals.
Schoenmaker, who had already claimed silver in the 100m breaststroke on Tuesday, powered to the finish 0.97s ahead of King.
The 24-year-old’s victory marked the second African gold medal in the pool following Tunisian Ahmed Hafnaoui’s success in the men’s 400m freestyle on Sunday.
King led until the 150m turn when Schoenmaker went in front and then delivered a powerful final length to smash the world record and grab gold.