By Razeen Gutta
Tatjana Smith and Pieter Coetze have their sights set on podium finishes as they stormed into their respective 100 metre finals.
Smith, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Games, beat Ireland’s Mona McSharry and Tokyo bronze medallist Lilly King from the USA to win the women’s 100 metre breaststroke semi-final with a time of 1:05.00.
With Tokyo’s gold winner Lydia Jacoby failing to qualify for the event, Smith will surely be in with a chance to claim first place on the Paris podium when the final takes centre stage at 21:25 on Monday.
In the men’s 100 metre backstroke semi-final, Italy’s Thomas Ceccon got the win in 52.58.
Coetze progressed, too, though — as he swam an African record of 52.63 to finish joint in second place alongside Frenchman Yohann Ndoye-Brouard.
The 20-year-old won bronze in the 200 metre backstroke at the World Championships back in February and is certainly in with a chance to claim a podium spot for South Africa.
The final takes place at 21:19 on Monday.
In other sports, world number two mountain bike cyclist Alan Hatherly will add to Mzansi’s medal chances on Monday as he lines up in the men’s cross country race at 14:10.
Men’s rowing pair of John Smith and Christopher Baxter claimed second spot in their first-round to progress to the semi-finals which will take place on Wednesday.
Pictured above: Tatjana Smith
Source: @officialteamrsa
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