Tatjana Schoenmaker is SA’s only world No.1 contender heading into the Tokyo Olympics‚ but the breaststroke queen talks like she’s getting ready for a casual outing.
No other South African is so well poised to win two medals at this showpiece‚ which has been delayed by a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Countryman Chad Le Clos has said he’s tipping her for gold in both the 200m breaststroke‚ her premier event‚ as well as the 100m event‚ where she is seeded fourth. Her ranking guarantees nothing‚ she said. “I really had a good race in trials and I was very happy‚ so for me to just try and swim that time again would be amazing.
In some ways Schoenmaker is a throw-back to Penny Heyns‚ the last SA woman to win an Olympic swimming medal‚ the 100m breaststroke bronze at Sydney 2000. Heyns is the only woman in the world to have won the Olympic breaststroke double‚ a feat she achieved at Atlanta 1996. “I wouldn’t say they must cut me out [as a medal contender]‚” said Schoenmaker. “I’m going to try my best to do my best‚ but obviously the 100m is clearly not my strongest one.
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