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South Africa’s Schoenmaker wins women's 200m breaststroke gold with world record

Reuters
Tokyo
Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa celebrates with her gold medal in the women's 200m breaststroke swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on 30 July 2021.
Reuters

Tatjana Schoenmaker won the women's 200m breaststroke on Friday in a world record time of 2:18.95 to deliver South Africa's first gold medal of the Tokyo Games.

Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa celebrates with Lilly King of the United States, Annie Lazor of the United States and Kaylene Corbett of South Africa after setting a new World record in the final of the women's 200m breaststroke swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on 30 July 2021.
Reuters

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 0.97 seconds ahead of King.

Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa, Lilly King of the United States and Annie Lazor of the United States pose on the podium with the gold, silver and bronze medal respectively after in the final of the women's 200m breaststroke swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on 30 July 2021.
Reuters

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.

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