It’s indescribable - Schoenmaker breaks the world record for gold
The South African star swimmer’s emotions are “indescribable” as she has broken an eight-year world record to be the winner of the Olympics 200m breaststroke final on Friday.
Tatjana Schoenmaker
set a new record in Tokyo as she grabbed the first Olympic gold medal for Team South Africa this year.
Notwithstanding being challenged by American duo Lily King (2:19.92) and Annie Lazor (2:20.84), the 24-year-old was faster in touching the wall and set a record of 2:18.95.
Not long after the race, Schoenmaker received her Olympic gold medal while the South African anthem was playing at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
"
It's indescribable,"
she said, clutching her medal.
"It really hasn't sunk in yet. The whole process went really quick. It'll probably kick in when I get home."
She broke Denmark’s
Rikke Moller Pedersen
’s world record, which was set in 2013 in Barcelona.
The South African was shocked to have broken the record of 2:19.
"
When I first saw my time, I saw 2:19 [King's time on the electronic scoreboard], and didn't know that wasn't my time,"
said the Tuks University student.
"2:19 has been in the record books for so long. I'm just really grateful."
"She definitely pushed me. I think it was just amazing knowing that you're able to race against the world's best. It couldn't have been a better race and it was tough," said Schoenmaker.
"My first 100m isn't always that fast, so I literally just focused on my own stroke and when we got to the last turn, it was anyone's race.
"Whether I came first or last, I would have been able to walk out and know that I gave it my all.
"Everyone in that final swam a great race. Whether I came first or second, I knew I could walk away with a smile on my face."
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