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Golden sweep for Coetze as SA swimmers glitter in Glasgow

football29 July 2026 20:44
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South Africa's Pieter Coetze stormed to his third gold of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Wednesday night, winning the Men’s 100m backstroke final in a Games and African record time of  51.77 to complete a clean sweep in the three backstroke events.

Coetze's compatriot Ruard van Renen took bronze in 53.31 seconds, with England's Oliver Morgan claiming silver.

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Christian Sadie joined the winner's podium, comfortably taking gold for South Africa in the Men’s 50m freestyle S7 final with a new Commonwealth Games record time of 28.06. 

Singapore's Wei Soong Toh claimed silver and England's Bruce Dee bronze.

Earlier, Kaylene Corbett swam the race of her career to go one better than her 2022 bronze medal with a heroic silver behind Scotland’s Angharaad Evans to claim her first medal in Glasgow.

Corbett came on strongly in the second half to clock 2:24.46. Aimee Canny finished 5th in 2:25.05, with Rebecca Meder 8th in 2:30.25.

Proceedings at the Tollcross Swimming Centre concluded with two more bronze medals for Team South Africa.

First the Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay team powered to bronze in 3:58.58, setting a new African Record.

Olivia Nel, Aimee Canny, Erin Gallagher and Rebecca Meder delivered a phenomenal performance to pip Canada and finish third behind Australia and Scotland.

In the final swimming event of the night, the Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay clocked a time of 3:31.13 to finish third behind Australia and England.

Pieter Coetze, Michael Houlie, Chad le Clos and Ruard van Renen delivered the goods for South Africa. 

The bronze medal also sees Le Clos become the most decorated athlete in Commonwealth Games history, with an incredible 21 Commonwealth Games medals.

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