Star swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker has claimed South Africa's first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo as she won the women's 200-metre breaststroke final this morning, setting a new world record in the process.

Star swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker has claimed South Africa’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo as she won the women’s 200-metre breaststroke final this morning, setting a new world record in the process.

Published on

30 July 2021

Swimming in lane 4, Schoenmaker timed her race to perfection, making her move, over the last 100-metres. The 24-year old from Roodepoort makes history by becoming the first South African woman swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal since Penny Heyns at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Her win takes Team SA’s medal tally in Tokyo to 3 after she won silver in the 100-metres breaststroke earlier this week, while surfer Bianca Buitendag also won a silver medal on Tuesday.

Merentia Van Der Vent

Merentia joined the media world in 1996 and in 2001, she took her first steps in the broadcasting world. In her free time, she likes to go on adventures in the city. She also likes to learn new dances, not that she is any good at that.