Coetzé Leads SA Champs with World Champs 2025 Qualifier

Duduzile Pila April 10, 2025

Pieter Coetzé powers through the 100m backstroke at the SA Championships in Gqeberha. Image: Swimswam.

(The Post News)– Pieter Coetzé made a statement on the opening day of the South African Swimming Championships in Gqeberha on Wednesday, securing the only automatic qualifying time for the World Championships in Singapore later this year.

The 20-year-old, already a two-time Olympian, delivered two impressive swims in the 100m backstroke — clocking 53.03 seconds in the heats before lowering it to 52.71 in the final. That was just shy of his national record (52.58), a strong showing considering he took a training break in December. The University of Pretoria student, who juggles philosophy and psychology studies, seems right on track.

Ruard van Renen, fresh off a podium finish at the NCAA Champs in the U.S., placed second in 54.77. The rest of the night saw tight races, even if no more qualifiers emerged. Rebecca Meder claimed the 100m breaststroke in a personal best of 1:07.50, while Duné Coetzee edged her in the 200m freestyle. Matthew Sates outpaced teen Kris Mihaylov in the men’s 200m free, while Chris Smith won the 100m breaststroke in a nail-biter. Jessica Thompson also took a close win in the 100m backstroke.